THE release of more than Rs270bn by the federal government for the revival and modernisation of the Karachi Circular Railway is welcome news. However, whether or not it translates into action soon and lightens the commuting burden of millions of Karachi residents remains to be seen.

Though the launch of the Green Line in January has provided some degree of relief, it may be too early for celebrations. The Green Line is only one of the five bus rapid transit lines planned for Karachi. The federal government is hoping to develop a modernised KCR as a core component of the future Karachi Breeze, the official name for the megacity’s bus and rapid transit system.

The authorities envision Karachi Breeze to operate with the five BRT lines connected to the KCR. Only one of those BRT projects — the Green Line — has become functional. The shortest BRT corridor among the five — the Orange Line — is extraordinarily delayed, while no planning or construction seems to have started for the Red, Blue and Yellow Lines.

That is not all. According to the latest reports, the centre also intends to develop the project under public-private partnership on a build-operate-transfer basis. Under this plan, a 43-kilometre-long dual track will be built once Ecnec gives its approval. However, it is not yet clear if the Sindh government has completed its share of the groundwork.

One of the key factors hampering the progress of KCR’s revival are the offices and buildings of the federal and provincial utility companies who had failed to inform the railways department about the details of their assets. Moreover, there were also whispers that some of the province’s officials were having second thoughts about the project’s feasibility. The strained relationship between the province and the centre has not helped matters either. Whatever the reasons for the delay, the centre and province should resolve them at the earliest. The citizens of Karachi should not have to put up with yet another half-hearted, ill-managed scheme.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2022