‘Green Line to benefit 400,000 commuters every day’

President Mamnoon Hussain briefed on

bus rapid transit system at Governor House

The Green Line project would benefit 400,000 commuters of Karachi on a daily basis, said President Mamnoon Hussain on Saturday.

He was chairing a meeting at the Governor House, where he was briefed on the Karachi Metrobus project, a bus rapid transit system (BRTS) that would be the largest metro bus network in Pakistan upon completion.

The president said that after being successful in Lahore, Islamabad and Multan, the system would now be available to the people of Karachi, who would be provided with modern mass transportation facilities.

The Green Line portion of the metrobus project, which is being funded by the federal government, would be completed by the end of next year, he added.

He said the Centre had provided a wonderful gift in the form of Green Line, as it would alleviate the intra-city travelling issues of the people of the provincial capital.

He added that modes of mass transportation had always been a major issue for big cities, including Karachi, and the issue had been compounded with the rapid increase in population.

He hoped that when the project is completed, it would resolve the vehicular traffic issues that are worsening in the interior parts of the city.

Hussain said the federal government had envisioned this project to provide civic facilities to the masses, adding that the citizens of Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, who use the BRTS, considered it a “blessing”, as it saved their time and money.

He said monuments of cultural and national heritage along the proposed route of the BRTS in Karachi had been taken care of during construction.

He directed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to personally monitor the project and ensure that it is completed within the stipulated time and required specifications and standards.

He said Karachi was rightly considered the economic hub, as the city’s functioning enabled the functioning of the entire country. “For these reasons, a proposal to install a water desalination plant in the city is under consideration.”

The president later told the media that Green Line would help raise the living standards of the people of Karachi and alleviate their relevant civic issues.

 

Meeting with governor

Besides development projects in progress, the president discussed Karachi’s law and order issues and the ongoing operation against criminals and terrorists with Governor Justice (retd) Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui and CM Shah. They reiterated their resolve to continue the targeted operation until peace is restored.

The governor said the mass transit and the Lyari Expressway projects would help provide modern transportation facilities to the residents of Karachi.

The president said the Karachi Circular Railway project was being included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under the directives of the prime minister.

The CM said the provincial government had been taking important steps for development and progress of Karachi, and mentioned the vital Orange Line component of the Karachi Metrobus project.