ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Sunday asserted that the long-awaited Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Karachi would be ready for commercial operations from December 25.
Taking to Twitter, the federal minister announced that the project will be ready for a trial operation within the next 10 days, following which it will be formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan and then its commercial activities could begin.
“I conducted a detailed review of the Karachi Green Line project yesterday. With the grace of Allah, this project will be ready for trial operation in the next 10 days,” the planning minister wrote.
The Rs16.85 billion federal government-funded bus project had been started back in 2016 by then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who had aimed to complete the project within one year. However, due to various reasons, the project remained incomplete.
Later, the project was extended by another 10 kilometres as initially sought by the Sindh government and the estimated cost crossed the figure of Rs24bn.
The second and final consignment of 40 buses for the Green Line project arrived in the city on Oct 21, raising the number of buses to 80, rekindling citizens’ hope that Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in the metropolis was set to be launched. It is supposed to facilitate travel of approximately 300,000 passengers daily.
