KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday formally approved the proposal for launching the Rs14 billion construction works on the first phase of Red Line bus rapid transit project starting from Malir Halt Depot to Mosamiyat.

“This is good news for the people of Karachi and I am sure the work would be started on war footings so that it could be completed within two and half years,” he said while presiding over a meeting of TransKarachi here at CM House.

The CM was informed that the Karachi BRT Red Line (KBRT) project was being implemented with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and three other co-financers with a total cost of Rs78.38bn.

The Red Line project corridor passes through urban areas of the city, originating from Malir Halt and terminating at Tower via Malir Cantonment, Safoora, Uni­ver­sity Road and Numiash.

The work on the first lot would be started in the second week of March for which machinery was being mobilised to Malir Halt, the CM was told.

The BRT Red Line is a 25-km corridor which would have ridership of over 300,000 passengers per day. As per plan, 240 buses would be procured for the project and their procurement order would be placed by the end of 2023.

Street crime

Talking to media at three different locations, the CM said he had formulated short-, medium- and long-term policies to control street crime in Karachi.

“I have directed all police officials to keep patrolling in their respective areas so that proper vigilance could be ensured,” he added.

He said that the law department had been directed to prepare a draft law for electronic-tagging of habitual criminals.

Mr Shah said that all the private security agencies, guards, domestic and industrial workers would be registered for the development of a database.

He said the Karachi Safe City project was being implemented in the red zone and at important areas.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2022