Setting up of biogas plant for Red Line approved

32 acres of land to be acquired in Cattle Colony for the plant

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over a meeting on BRTs, Yellow Line and Red Line on Thursday and decided to construct an alternate of Jam Sadique Bridge and acquire 32 acres of land at Cattle Colony for the installation of biogas plant.

The meeting was attended by Minister Transport Sharjeel Memon, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, Secretary Finance Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary LG Najam Shah, Secretary Transport Haleem Shaikh, and other officials.

Minister Transport briefing the chief minister said that the overarching objective of the project was to improve mobility, accessibility, and, safety along the Yellow BRT corridor alignment.

Sharjeel Memon told the CM that the BRT Yellow Line project was being launched with the assistance of the World Bank for Rs61 billion. He added that it was a 21km main corridor right from Dawood Chowrangi to Numaish and it would have two depots, one at Dawood Chowrangi and the other at Christian Colony. 

He mentioned, the BRT would have 28 stations, including six underpass stations, nine underpasses, two U-turns and two bridges. He said that the BRT Yellow Line would have 268 diesel Hybrid buses with regular ridership of 300,000 per day.

It was pointed out that the BRT Yellow Line would have 80-100km off-corridor road facilities which need to be improved.

Shah directed the P&D and transport department to finalise the alignment of Jam Sadiq Bridge alternate as a right of way of the Yellow Line so that work on the proposed bridge could be started.

He added that he had assured the World Bank team that the remaining formalities of the bridge and the overall project would be finalised at the earliest to launch the project.

Transport minister told the CM that the consultancy contract for procurement of consulting services for the preparation of the detailed design has been awarded. He added that the consultants have submitted technical reports which are being reviewed.  

The chief minister was informed that the Yellow Line needs 10 acres of land for BRT Yellow Line Depot for which the CM directed the chief secretary to arrange the land in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area.

The chief minister was also informed that the work on BRT Red Line was in full swing.

Sharjeel Memon told the CM that the work on the development of the infrastructure of Red Line would be completed by middle of year 2024.

He raised the issue of the installation of a biogas plant for Red Line at Cattle Colony. The CM directed the local government department to arrange 32 acres of land at Cattle Colony so that plant could be installed.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2022.