Sindh to distribute pink scooters free of charge next month

Sharjeel Memon touts double-decker buses, electric buses as part of provincial government’s transport initiatives

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced on Wednesday that pink scooters will be distributed free of cost by the provincial government next month.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, he said that the Sindh government would also be introducing double-decker buses and electric buses (EVs) as part of its transport initiatives.

Tracks for cyclists and pedestrians are also being built, he added.

Regarding the Yellow Line BRT, Memon said that the corridor along Jam Sadiq Bridge will be completed ahead of schedule. The old bridge will subsequently be demolished and rebuilt to improve traffic flow, he added.

Read: BRT to be completed five months ahead of schedule

According to Memon, the Red Line BRT remains a key focus and will be completed at the earliest, with the project moving forward under World Bank support.

Established in 2020, TransKarachi is a public sector company owned by the Government of Sindh. It serves as the implementing agency for the $503 million Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line.

The project is sponsored by the provincial government with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and co-financiers, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the French Agency for Development (AFD), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The Red Line project is being developed in three phases.

Read more: Multimillion-dollar project hit with delays

Phase one will connect Model Colony to Mosmiyat, phase two will extend the route from Mosmiyat to Numaish Chowrangi, and phase three will run from Municipal Park to Tower.

The foundation stone for phases one and two, covering bus procurement and civil works, was laid in August 2022 with an initial completion target of 2024, but the deadline has been uncertain.

Earlier in March, Memon had said that the Yellow Line BRT project would be completed by May 2025, five months ahead of schedule.

The Red Line BRT project is facing some issues due to Civil Aviation, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) and K-IV, which will be resolved soon, Memon said.

He also said Green Line's fares will not be increased but the facilities will be further increased so better travel facilities could be provided to the people.