KARACHI: The federal government has approved Rs6.5 billion more for Karachi’s Green Line Rapid Bus Transit project to extend it by another 10 kilometres, as was initially sought by the Sindh government, an official said on Friday.

The initial cost of the project was estimated at Rs16.85 billion that would now grow by Rs6.5 billion, which would be funded by the federal government, he said, adding that redesigning of the project to accommodate the extension was under way with the approval of the additional financial support.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had in principle agreed with the Sindh government when he came to launch the project in February 2016,” said the official.

“The provincial government actually proposed that Green Line Rapid Bus Transit system should be extended to the Merewether Tower — commonly known as bus stop Tower — which was originally terminating at Municipal Park on M.A. Jinnah Road.”

The proposal, he said, was approved by the prime minister, who asked all the federal institutions concerned to pursue all formalities in this regard and take steps which were necessary to extend the route of the bus service.

Despite an approval from the top, it took almost six months to finally get a nod for additional funding from the federal government, he added.

“So roughly or nearly, we can say that it would add another 10 kilometres from its original destination near Municipal Park on M.A. Jinnah Road,” he said. “For that 10 kilometres extra space, the project demanded another Rs6.5 billion — Rs5.8 billion for infrastructure development and the rest for other required utilities. So it has been approved and the project is on smooth track to be completed within the given timeframe.”

The Green Line bus project approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council is being executed by the Karachi Infrastructure Development Company.

Starting from KESC Power House Chowrangi in Surjani Town, the bus service will now terminate at Merewether Tower after passing through Nagan Chowrangi, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Gurumandir, with more than 20 stations on its route to cater to 300,000 passengers daily.

With more than 20 kilometres dedicated track, including 11 kilometres elevated section, the bus service project is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

This project is being constructed on a bus-way in the median of the road along the corridor with stations in the centre of the median at the ground and elevated sections, which will provide 25-kilometre-per hour high capacity service to 29,400 passengers every hour.

“This bus project first came into spotlight in July 2014, when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced Mass Transit System for Sindh,” said the official.

“The prime minister had announced a package for the development of a fast and efficient metro bus system called Green Line for the country’s business capital, saying that the federal government was keen to revolutionise Karachi’s transport system.”

The project was taken up by the federal government on a “high priority basis” as determined by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in their feasibility study conducted for the Karachi Transportation Improvement Project (KTIP-2030) in December, 2012, he added.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2016