Sindh govt, with assistance of ADB, to launch BRT Red Line, education project, 847-km roads

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his meeting with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation, led by its Director General Mr Werner E. Leipach, discussed different projects such as Economic Progress and Challenges, Karachi BRT, strengthening Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit, education project and second Sindh Provincial Roads Project and agreed to launch them after completion of necessary documentation.

Those who attended the meeting included Chairman P&D Mohammad Waseem, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Education Qazi Shahid Pervez, Secretary Finance Najam Shah, Secretary Works Sajaad Abbasi, Secretary Transport Akhtar Ghori and Director General PPP Unit Khalid Shaikh. The ADB delegation members were Country Director Xiaohong Yang, Sana Masood, financial sector specialist and Shahid Mahooom Executive Director.

The Sindh chief minister said that the BRT Red Line was the most important project and he wanted to start it from the next financial year. The technical assistance provided by the ADB has been firmed up through its proposal.

The ADB has provided a project development assistance of $9.7 million to improve the urban transport system (UTS) of Karachi. Apart from technical and financial support, the ADB supports to implement the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors and strengthen institutions and organizations.

The ADB has also provided technical assistance to build upon the feasibility studies for priority BRT corridors undertaken by the JICA. The Red Line BRT project based on detailed studies has been developed. The corridor length is 29.1 kms with at grade section 26.3 kms and elevated section 0.8 kms and underground 1.9 kms.

The alignment of the Red Line project will be Numaish to Khudabad Colony via Shahrah-e-Quaideen traversing through the Kashmir Road, Peoples Secretariat, New M.A Jinnah Road, Jail Chowrangi, Askari Park, Civic Center, University Road, Safoora Chowk, Malir Cantt Gate No 6, Tank Chowk and finally ends at Malir Halt.

It would have 29 stations and 350,000 riderships per day. The system will have the capacity of 30,000 per person per hour per day. There would be a 217 bus fleet and the project would cost Rs562.3 million.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and DG ADB discussed the Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project of $165 million. The project would support the Sindh school education system and it has three components i.e. Access to Quality Secondary Education Expanded, Teaching & Learning Capacity Improved and Secondary Education Examination System Improved. It will be a six-year project and would be implemented all over Sindh.

The PDWP has cleared the project last year and 105 schools have been selected. Its phase-I would be launched from the next financial year.

The chief minister along with his team discussed Rs41,200 million 847-km long Sindh Provincial Roads, Phase-II project. Under this project, 19 roads will be reconstructed. The are 17-km Mehran Highway (MHW) of Khairpur from Suigas Chowk to Hingorja, 20-km Mehran Highway from Pacca Chang to Bhirya stop (N-5), 28-km N-5 Qazi Ahmed to Daur (MHW), 58 km Dokri to Radhan via Badah with Link to Naseerabad (N-5), 80-km Road from TM Khan to Sujawal via Bulri Shah Karim, 67 km road from Hyderabad to Tando Ghulam Ali via Shaikh Bhirkyo with link to Chimbar, 40 km road from (N-5) Dadloi to Adilpur via Cheechro with Link to Pano Aqil via Rojo (Ghotki-Pano Aqil area), 60-km raod from Thul to Bahu Khoso with links to Allahdad (border of Balochistan) and Garhi Bhutto, 38-km road from (N-5) to Khairpur-Larkana via Ahmedpur Ripri, 50-km road from Shikarpur to Chak Jahankhan, 58 km road from Shahdadkot to Ratodero via Mirokhan with link to Kambar, 45-km road from Shikarpur to Sukkur-Larkanao with link to Bado via Dhakan, 35-km road from Mirpur Mathelo to Khanpur with link to Hayat Pitafi to Jarwar (Ghotki distt), 43-km road Matiari to Oderolal via Nasarpur and Odero Lal Station, 36-km road from Thatta-Jhimpir via Satayoon Buradabad road upto Thatta-Hyderabad road, 40-km road from Mithi to Diplo, 60-km road from Talhar to Digri via Tando Bago, 37-km road from Indus Highway to Rani Kot upto Meeri Kot with bridges, 35-km road from Thul to Jacobabad via Sanhri Sarak.

Strengthening PPP Unit: The infrastructure and social service needs of Sindh exceed the provincial public resources available. To address the significant infrastructure requirements in an efficient, cost-effective manner and to enable further private participation in delivering infrastructure service, the Sindh government sought ADB assistance to expand and improve the Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Sindh.

The project is estimated at $184.13 million where the ADB and Sindh government would share the cost. Under the project, overall PPP unit would be strengthened, including developing capacity building of the officers, suggesting necessary amendment in the PPP law and such other reforms would be introduced.