The federal government has cleared the construction of the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System for Karachi, which is conditioned on the rationalisation of the cost, as the number of Rs27.6 billion appears to be on the higher side. The project, which would be funded by the federal government, cleared the first hurdle when the Central Development Working Committee gave it the thumbs-up and will now be tabled before the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for final approval. Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has termed the project a “gift for the people of Karachi”, who have long faced traffic congestion issues.
However, the pre-condition of cost rationalisation appears to be one of the many thorns already present in the path of this project. Apart from the Rs17.5 billion marked for the construction of the 21-kilometre long road, Rs4.1 billion will be used to buy 105 buses, taking the project’s per unit cost to Rs38.3 million. This figure seems exorbitantly high and will have to be brought down if Ecnec is to give a green signal to the project. If not, then it could face the same fate as the many mass transit projects that had been announced for Karachi before. It should be noted that Rs5.6 billion out of the total cost will be obtained through foreign loans. This is another feature of the federal government’s tactics, which is all too willing to knock on the doors of international lenders. Two years is the time stated to complete the project although the government is looking to reduce this duration.
With pressure on the PML-N government mounting from every corner, focusing on infrastructural projects seems to be its strategy to soothe the public. Old buses, re-assembled from scratch, and rickshaws are the major sources of public transport available for the people of Karachi. For Pakistan’s largest city, as well as its financial hub, the absence of an organised transport system is a jaw-dropping fact. Perhaps, this is a curse that Karachiites have to live with, but one hopes things change for the better this time.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2014.
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@Tony:
Under the agreed terms Sindh government would fund the yellow line, federal government the green line and Bahria foundation the blue line of the proposed Rapid Bus Transit System. Inaddition to this JICA was expected to revive a line of KCR to complete the first phase of proposed mass transit.
While I have zero confidence whatsoever in PPP-MQM duo in Sindh to accomplish anything, when PMLN can fund a motorway in Hazara division it can surely fund one project for Karachi. Merely saying PMLN does not even bother to win votes from Sindh.
@Ahmed Shafique
The difference between the Lahore and Karachi Metro bus lines is that the Punjab Government funded a sizable chunk of the Lahore Metro whilst the Federal government is funding the majority of the Karachi Metro - Sindh Government should contribute from it's budget for Karachi like Punjab government did for Lahore.
The cost for the project is almost exactly the same as the one for Lahore metro yet PMLN thinks it is exorbitant. Lahore Metro was built for Rs 29.8 Billion spanning 28.7 km. Since buses were supposedly gifted by the City of Istanbul the entire cost catered to the construction of the project costing Rs 1.103 Billion per kilometer.
The infrastructure cost mentioned for the Green Line above is Rs 23.5 billion (27.6-4.1) over a length of 21 kilometers resulting in average cost of Rs 1.119 Billion per kilometer or Rs 16 million more per km than Lahore.
These figures clearly show that not only is the cost of Green Line Karachi very much rational, once you take into account the higher costs of everything in Karachi the cost of Lahore metro was exorbitant.
The overall attitude of PMLN led federal government only proves that while Sindh and Karachi desperately need an alternate from PPP and MQM, PMLN with all its prejudice and chauvinism is not a possible option.
instead of making it elevated which increases cost, expand roads which may need paying peanuts in comparison to bridges. Save extra money which can be used in Thar use local buses
Dear Karachi,
First European Buses with CNG were introduced back in early 2000 at the tenure of City Nazim Niamatullah Khan. The Quantity of Buses were less but the standard and quality was far better than what I see in Dubai Bus. Later when another Political Party took charge of the city they didn't continue the same Bus system which was very pleasant with AC, Automatic Transmission, CNG and a smooth ride. They introduced a massive program of Hino-Pak Buses with ugly green paint and stupid staff / ticket stations. The former one was ruined on Political Basis and the later one was ruined by Incompetency of the Uneducated Political Workers who are staffed to run the CNG Bus System.
Everyone who experienced different buses knows that China/Japan is not Leader in Buses and Public Transport but Europeans are champions in Comfortable Buses. This is my request to all whether they eat Pan or Naswar to Modernize the Public Transport System and this will increase your Profits. People will leave their Bikes/Cars and will start using Public Transport if you Invest Properly in the Infrastructure.