KARACHI, Nov 16: A mass transit master plan is being prepared to improve the transport infrastructure and facilities in the city. It will incorporate the Karachi Circular Railway, the Northern Bypass and the Lyari Expressway projects with the monetary assistance of the World Bank.

It was stated at a meeting between the two-member delegation of the World Bank with provincial transport secretary Raja Mohammad Abbas to review the World Bank-funded US$ 100 million Sindh Reform Programme. The meeting discussed various transport- related issues such as the role of Provincial Transport Authority and the Regional Transport Authority, Sindh transport policy, etc.

The delegation comprised Amir Durrani and Naveed Qureshi; the transport department was represented by Secretary Raja Abbas, Karachi Mass Transit Programme Director General Dr Tahir Soomro, City Transport Department Executive District Officer Malik Zaheerul Islam, and others.

The director general of the KMTP, Dr Tahir Soomro, briefed the delegation about preparation of a viable implementation plan for the revitalization of the KCR, Karachi urban bus Daewo- planning stage, the Karachi Public Transport Society working and other issues.

He informed the delegation of a master plan to incorporate the KCR, the Northern Bypass and the Lyari Expressway and a integrated transport system to facilitate the commuters. He told the delegation about the vital role of the KCR in the urban transport sector and said the government had been taking various steps to revitalize the project.

He said the KCR was part of the city transport plan and recently consultants had been approached to explore the ways of its early revival. He said that it was being considered whether the KCR should be operated under build-operate-transfer basis or it should be given to the private sector. Other proposals were also being considered, he added.

Besides, he said, the establishment of the Sindh provincial transport authority was also reviewed to provide policy guidance. He said different transport departments were working in the province and to ensure coordination between them, an authority was needed.

The authority would also register the driving and training schools in the public and private sectors to manage and regulate them. It would also take the responsibility of managing and regulating inter-city and inter-provincial route structures, transport quality control, fare structure, and monitor the foreign-funded projects initiated in the transport sector. Giving specialized guidance and ensuring coordination between the different transport-related departments would be its important role, he added.

The transport secretary briefed the delegation about the role of the transport authority and the regional transport authority, adds PPI.

He also informed them about the mode of working of the urban transport system which would now function under the city government.

The secretary transport further informed them about the proposed route of the urban transport system.