BRT delays

The Sindh transport minister has reportedly directed the authorities to accelerate the construction work on the Red Line and Yellow Line BRT projects in Karachi. The delay in the Red Line project, which is already late by two years, has caused considerable hardship to thousands of Karachi residents due to traffic congestion, increased transportation costs, longer commute time, health and safety concerns, environmental impacts, community frustration, etc. The Red Line project was expected to ease these issues with improved public transport, but its delay has prolonged the challenges faced by Karachi’s growing population.

One would hope that this delay has offered the Sindh government several key lessons including better project planning and coordination with stakeholders, timely availability of funds and resources, environmental safeguards, provision of suitable alternate roads, etc. While launching the BRT Yellow Line project, implementing such lessons could help the Sindh government to streamline this project and avoid similar pitfalls. Any delay in Yellow Line project completion will not only impact commuters but may also adversely influence production and export of various goods from the Korangi Industrial Zone, one of the largest in Pakistan.

Dr Mohammad Saleem

Karachi