Multi-million dollar project kicks off despite financial woes

The Red Line BRT has been a long time coming but experts are concerned about the planning and timing

KARACHI:

struction work on the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project has begun but there are concerns that it will not only dent the public exchequer but also eat away Karachi’s already limited green spaces.

Back in 2010, the Red Line BRT project piqued the interest of international donor agencies but due to the lack of bank guarantees from the federal government and Sindh’s government indifference there was no investment in it.

Later, the Karachi Mass Transit Cell tried to start the project under a public-private partnership model but to no avail. An official of the provincial transport department privy to recent developments, told the Express Tribune under the condition of anonymity, that the project had suffered for more than a decade due to the inattention of the federal and Sindh government.

“It was supposed to change the public transport landscape of Karachi as per the Transport Master Plan 2030 but no one seemed to care much for it,” the official remarked. Despite the considerable time that has lapsed, the planning for the Red Line BRT remains poor, as per the official.

“For instance, the recently started construction work is bound to affect University Road, which was built just 5 years ago at a cost of nearly Rs 1 billion,” he revealed. Associate Director of the Karachi Urban Lab at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Muhammad Toheed, was also of the view that the planning and timing of the project was poor.

“The nation is already crippled by debt and for the provincial government to borrow more for such a costly project does not make sense,” Toheed opined, adding that the focus should be on low-cost projects which provide relief to the masses and do not burden the treasury.

“Furthermore, the existing roads, which were only recently built, will be damaged and whatever little tree cover we have will be lost. This is evidence of poor planning.” Toheed’s assessment holds weight, as in a site visit carried out by The Express Tribune it was observed that hundreds of trees have already been felled at different places from Malir Halt to Numaish Chowrangi.

Furthermore, as far as costs are concerned, Wasif Ijlal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Trans Karachi, an agency of the Sindh government, stated: “The construction of the Red Line BRT and the purchase of buses will cost $503.3 million - out of which the Asian Development Bank will provide $235 million, the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank will provide $71.81 million dollars, the French Development Agency will provide $71.81 million, while the Green Climate Fund will provide a $11.8 million dollar grant and $37.2 million in loans; whereas, the Sindh government will provide $75.71 million.” When asked about the immediate need for the expensive project given the dire straits of the national exchequer, Ijlal replied that the long-term benefits would outweigh the cost.

“The 27 kilometre long project will also have a biogas plant, drainage for rainwater, and cycling track. This project is the first of its kind in the country,” the Trans Karachi CEO explained, adding that residents of the city will be able to use the Red Line Corridor in 2025. As far as the threat to green spaces and the current tree felling drive goes, Ijlal said that they had already worked out an alternative plan. “Most of the trees being cut down are Corynocarpus trees. The department will ensure that the new plantations are done systematically and trees which actually help the environment are planted now,” Ijlal told The Express Tribune.