‘Green Line underground bus station first of its kind in country’

The multi-level underground bus station planned for the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit at Numaish Chowrangi for Karachi citizens is the first of its kind facility in the country, said Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Wednesday.

While chairing a meeting at his office where he was given a detailed presentation on the revised plan and design of the Green Line project which the chief minister approved recently and now includes a sublevel larger bus station and walkway, Akhtar said that owing to the immediate necessity of the project for the city, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation was providing its utmost support and cooperation to the consultant firm and the Karachi Infrastructure Development Corporation.

At the meeting, KIDC Chief Engineering Nisar Sario and Tanvir Ahmed, the director of the consulting firm, informed the mayor about the various salient features and the revised plan with the help of digital simulation and maps.

The mayor was told that with the addition of the underground bus station, the revised cost of the BRT line has increased to Rs2,400 million. As per the design, the tunnel which will be half a kilometre long would be fully covered and have a width of 30 meters with six lanes for the passing buses and as well as parking vehicles.

The project would also have drainage pumps, a fire-fighting system, emergency exit and ventilation system. Maintenance of the station would be the bus operator’s responsibility. The mayor said that revised design should be implemented in such a way that surrounding traffic flow on MA Jinnah Road is not disrupted and parking facilities are made available.

“MA Jinnah Road is the central artery of Karachi and thousands of vehicles use it at a time, therefore, the route for BRT Green Line could be made elevated or underground wherever it is required,” Akhtar said.

He appreciated that not damaging the surrounding heritage buildings was taken into consideration during planning and said that the since the mass transit project holds immense importance for the city, it should be completed on time.

The mayor also directed the relevant officials to ensure the city’s full cooperation to KIDC so that the project could be completed within the stipulated time.

Talking to The News after the meeting, Akhtar said Green Line was the need of the hour since citizens have been facing acute transportation problems. Replying to a question about the revival of Karachi Circular Railway, he said it has a long-awaited demand of the citizens and he hoped that federal government would ensure this project kicks off as well.

Separately, Mayor Akhtar also visited KIRAN Cancer Hospital in Safoora Goth on Wednesday to inquire about the health of Aijaz Ahmed Khan, the chairman of the sports and culture committee, who is admitted there.

He asked the hospital officials about the treatment being given to Khan and said he was glad to see that the centre had good facilities to treat cancer patients. Stressing the importance of setting up more cancer treatment centres to keep up with the growing population of the city, Akhtar urged welfare organisations and well-off citizens to come forward to work on such initiatives.