KARACHI: The Sindh government on Wednesday called for immediate relocation of all underground infrastructure of utility services along the route of Red Line bus rapid transit system (BRTS) for timely completion of the project.

The fresh directives came at 20th board of directors meeting of TransKarachi which was chaired by the Sindh Minister for Information and Transport and Chairman TransKarachi Sharjeel Inam Memon.

“The Asian Development Bank-funded Red Line BRT is an important project of Karachi and the Sindh government wants to complete it on time,” a statement issued after the meeting quoted the minister.

The minister, it said, directed secretary transport and managing director Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) to remain in contact with six utility companies for transfer of their installation from the route of BRT Red Line so that infrastructural development work is expedited. He said that no delay would be tolerated in the completion of the project.

He said that after the launch of People’s Bus Service and Abdul Sattar Edhi (Orange Line) BRT, the Sindh government was committed to deliver Red Line BRT project in time. The commuters of Model Colony, Malir Cantt, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Gulshan-i-Iqbal and neighbourhoods along the University Road would be connected with Green Line BRT at Numaish Chowrangi junction.

The meeting was told that development work on two portions were going on in full swing. In first portion from Tank Chowk to Safoora, construction of bus station at Tipu Sultan Housing Society and Racecourse station had already been started.

“Construction of two underpasses at Tipu Sultan Housing Society and Racecourse have also commenced, while control of land has been handed over to contractor for construction of depot at Malir Halt,” said the statement.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2022