Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said that approval for the construction of a bus station at Bagh-e-Karachi for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line will be obtained via the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) City Council.
He said this during a meeting at the KMC’s head office with a 17-member delegation from the Asian Development Bank, led by Lloyd Wright, on Monday. He said the pace of work on this project should be expedited in light of the difficulties faced by citizens on University Road due to the construction of the Red Line Bus Corridor.
Wahab emphasized that the City Council has the legal authority to pass a resolution regarding the KMC land, and approval for the construction of a station for the BRTRed Line at Bagh-e-Karachi would also be obtained from the City Council. Once completed, the Red Line Bus Rapid Project will provide modern transportation facilities to a large number of people.
The KMC, he said, will extend all possible support to facilitate the construction of the Red Line BRT corridor. During the meeting, the delegation briefed Mayor Wahab on the progress of the Red Line BRT project, currently under construction on University Road, and the development project for Bagh-e-Karachi, highlighting various aspects of the initiatives.
He stressed that the Red Line BRT project is of significant importance for Karachi, as a large number of citizens rely on University Road for their daily commutes. This long corridor is home to several important government and private offices, universities, and the Expo Centre, making it essential that there are no further delays. He mentioned that a beautiful garden is being developed on 54 acres of land in Bagh-e-Karachi, adjacent to the Red Line Bus station at the former site of Aladdin Park, and a City Council hall with a capacity for 500 members will also be constructed there. The master plan for the project includes a small cricket area, a children’s play area, a lake, a food court, and the provision of fiber optic infrastructure, among other facilities.
The City Council hall and adjacent offices will be designed to blend seamlessly with Bagh-e-Karachi, ensuring that the expansive garden remains lush and beautiful. A large number of shade and flowering trees will be planted to help reduce pollution and improve the environment.
Mayor Wahab noted that urban rapid bus transport projects aim to provide modern and quality travel facilities to citizens through mass transit. Many metropolitan cities around the world have implemented urban rapid bus and train projects, which have particularly benefited large urban populations. As the largest and most industrialized city in the country, Karachi also requires such transportation projects. The government has therefore initiated bus rapid transit projects along various important corridors for the convenience of the people, with further projects planned to ensure Karachi joins the ranks of cities worldwide offering modern, technology-based travel facilities.