Addressing commuter woes: Karachi metro bus project set for approval
The federal government is set to clear on Friday a rapid transit project for Karachi costing Rs15.4 billion aimed at easing the woes of commuters in the country’s largest city.
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) will consider the project in a meeting to be chaired by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman and Federal Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal.
The Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System from Municipal Park, Saddar to K-Electric Power House Chowrangi, Surjani Town will be fully funded by the federal government. The scheme is not part of the current year’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) worth Rs525 billion approved by the National Assembly in June.
The project is being undertaken on the directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and funds will be diverted from ongoing schemes. During a visit to Karachi in July this year, Sharif had announced a federal grant of Rs15 billion for the metro bus project.
CDWP has powers to approve projects valuing up to Rs3 billion and for schemes costing a higher amount it sends recommendations to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for final approval.
In a break with past practices, the government has abolished the prime minister’s discretionary fund for executing development schemes. However, the projects that the premier deems fit can be included in the development programme on his directives.
A delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) met Sharif last month, where it emphasised the need for completing development projects in Karachi. The delegates also brought to the premier’s notice the incomplete projects in the city such as the Lyari Expressway, Circular Railway and water and sewerage schemes.
Overall, the CDWP in its Friday meeting will review 18 development schemes costing roughly Rs75 billion. A project of widening and strengthening the Rakhi Gajj-Bewata section of the National Highway costing Rs20.8 billion is part of the agenda.
Since coming to power in June last year, the PML-N government has approved 240 projects worth Rs3.8 trillion for various sectors of the economy. This has put a strain on the already scarce financial resources as the country’s debt servicing cost increases at a rapid pace because of heavy reliance on borrowing.
At present, 1,144 development schemes valuing Rs6.2 trillion are part of the federal PSDP.
The value of federally-funded development projects has increased 41% or Rs1.8 trillion in just one year, which will lead to delay in completion of projects if existing resources are distributed to the total portfolio.
CDWP will also consider setting up an emergency rescue service 1122 in the Islamabad Capital Territory at a cost of Rs751.2 million. For improving the land record management system in Punjab, a project worth Rs10 billion will be taken up for consideration by the body.
It will also review the second phase of the machine readable passport project costing Rs3.3 billion. With expenses estimated at Rs11 billion, the establishment of a 500kv substation in Faisalabad will be discussed for better management of the electricity load.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (13)
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I hope this project comes to fruition as soon as possible. The picture above says it all, and I am sure it will make life a lot easier for these commuters.
Ali Khan Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM
PPP will never let this happen. We have been reading about mass transit project for Karachi for the last decade or so but nothing practical step has been taken yet. Many such projects comes and goes so its fate is already sealed as long as PPP is in power in Sindh.
Japan has offered to build and operate Karachi Circular Railway but they wanted to keep the money spending in their hands to avoid corruption which was obviously not accepted to Zardari Party alias Wadera Corruption Party government hence it kept the Japanese waiting for five years until they gave up hope and left in dejection.
I hope that PTI trolls will not spew venom on the Transport project of Karachi, the way they have been spewing venom on Lahore and Islamabad/Rawalpindi Metro buses.
Added another 1 billon dollar build bullet train could save million of dollar of oil import could be used every people of life
I think this metro is a waste of resourses. It would be much better utilized if the lyari expressway is completed and the circular railway is revived. And to top it the priority should be always the kmtp. No amount of metros and bridges can alleviate the traffic woes of this city like a comprehensive public transport system, like the kmtp, can. And for the karachiwala ( who is apparent from his statement is not a karachiwala at all) there was absolutely zilch development, before the era of musharraf began, in Karachi. That includes successive governments of PPP and nawaz Sharif. It also includes the dreadful era of Zia ul haq, but that person has left more sinister vices in this country for us to worry about development during his time.
What a slap on PPP. Federal come to rescue to address traffic situation of Karachi. Our CM should resign on this. Its very clear that PPP is successfully meeting foreign agenda to ensure their is no development in Sindh. Nawaz for the label that they have done something for Karachi. Well Sindh is actually not Nawaz domain. Good to know someone gave a thought for Karachi.
Punjab govt built the Lahore and Pindi metro from its own resources. Karachi metro will be funded by the federal govt. Where are those who say PMLN spends all the money in Lahore?
can any one inform me if the economics is fitting. Bus rapid transit with special roads has been implemented in India. aim is take away car owners in ac bus and reduce road congestion. This scheme to my mind is not very successful. Beside there autos , which carry passenger on share basis, it is cheaper.
I just wonder if Qaim Ali Shah and PPP have any conscience. Do they want to die with the false pride of having ruled a province or with the feeling that they actually made a difference to someone's life? Sometimes I feel that they are deliberately not letting any development happen in Sindh. A sickening mentality.
Sindh province already gets around 40% from the federal divisible pool, which is way higher than what it used to get when the financial distribution was based on 25% population. Now why the federal government is funding a project which is absolutely a local and provincial matter. Instead these funds should be spent in Baluchistan and FATA and let the Sindh Government take care of this project. But I guess, Sharif is too eager to put his name plate in Karachi city and willing to spend 15 billion from public money for a marble slab measuring 3'x5' for the sake of his personal promotion. Take this incentive out and there will be no metro for Karachi.
Much needed!
Good to see the federal government taking interest
If Tribune could kindly ask all Pakistanis to pay tax maybe there will be more development expenditure? It has already increased by Rs. 200-300 billion.