arachi is the largest city of Pakistan, its former capital and a major economic hub. Due to the constant tug of war between the government and other institutions responsible for the city, the problems of the metropolis and its people tend to stay unresolved.

Lack of safe transportation is one of the leading causes of distress for the residents of Karachi.

The transportation system was not always bad. For nearly 20 years after independence, the city had a tram which was a convenient mode of transportation for many people. Unfortunately, the owners of the tram company developed differences with the city government and stopped the service.

Karachi Circular Railway was launched in 1964. By 1970, the project had been expanded to a 44 kilometre ride. Starting from Drigh Road, the train moves to Nazimabad through Gilani Station, Gulshan-i-Iqbal and connects with Karachi’s City station. The service started declining in the 1980s, and was shut down in 1999. The Japan External Trade Organisation has been trying to revive the KCR since 2006. Last year a 14 kilometre track of the KCR was made functional. A lack of public interest and operational losses caused it to shut down within weeks.

Aside from these services, 200 buses were provided under the Karachi Transport Company in 1977 by the federal government at the time. After 15 years of service, this operation was shut down too, as KTC shifted its focus to the financial health of the organisation.

A private company launched the Metro bus service in the 1990s. These buses had a fixed timetable and offered tickets by the seat. They were convenient and popular with the public. The average bus fare was 2 rupees at the time but the Metro bus charged 10 rupees. However, this did not deter people from using the service.

As the city began to lose reliable transportation, the masses took it upon themselves to address this issue, releasing a swarm of motorcycles on the roads. An estimated 700 to 800 new motorcycles hit the roads daily, with the total number of motorcycles crossing 5 million.

Due to the city’s struggle with a structured transport system, the PML-N government announced the Green Line bus service for Karachi in 2014. Construction of stations and tracks began in 2016. For various reasons, including lack of interest by the federal and provincial government, it took six years to make this project operational.

Green Line Bus Rapid Transit system has finally been launched at a time when Karachi is in dire need of a proper transport service.

A salient feature of this service is that it is free of traffic jams, as the buses run on a dedicated track. No other vehicles are allowed on the track, which makes accidents far less likely.

At the moment, the Green Line fleet consists of 80 buses. Each bus can accommodate 150 passengers on its seats and and standing areas. The women’s section is at the front, families ride in the middle, and male passengers are accommodated at the back. These buses also have dedicated seats for passengers with disabilities. The fare is Rs 55 irrespective of whether you are travelling between cloe-by stations or across the entire network. It is estimated that around 400,000 passengers will use this service daily.

The Green Line has 22 operational stations at the moment, while 3 stations connecting Numaish to Tower are still under construction. The service runs from 7am to 10pm. This service has a 12.7-kilometre elevated track, 10.9 kilometres at grade, and 422 metres underground. Smoking on the bus is strictly prohibited.

The service is excellent for exploring the city in a safe and convenient manner, since it passes interesting areas such as Road 4200, Power House Chowrangi, Road 2400 and 2 Minute Chowrangi.

Starting from Numaish, the service covers a distance of 21 kilometres through Patel Para or Gurumandir, Lasbela Chowk, Sanitary Market, Nazimabad No 1, Inquiry Office, Annu Bhai Park, Board Office, Hyderi, Five Star Chowrangi, Jumma Bazaar, Erum Shopping, Nagan Chowrangi, UP Morr, Road 4200, Power House Chowrangi, Road 2400, 2 Minute Chowrangi, Surjani Chowrangi, Karimi Chowrangi and KDA Flats. The journey ends at Abdullah Chowk.

Buses leave the main terminal at Numaish or Abdullah Chowk every 3 minutes and reach the last station in approximately 30 minutes.

The smartly uniformed bus drivers ride in a separate compartment. A sticker is pasted outside to discourage passengers from distracting the driver.

Announcements are made on the public address system to inform passengers about the specific areas in the bus and how to buy tickets as you move towards your destination. A pleasant female voice announces approaching destinations. Sitting inside the bus, one can see the suburbs of Karachi, which in normal circumstances is surely a herculean task.

A salient feature of this service is that it is free of traffic jams, as the buses run on a dedicated track. No other vehicles are allowed on the track, which makes accidents far less likely.

With their safety features the buses provide women with a secure means of transport. They are less likely to face harassment on these buses. During the month of Ramazan, the operation time of this service was extended by an additional 2 hours to accommodate increased demand for Eid shopping. Female passengers in particular were able to take full advantage of this facility to visit shopping areas along the Green Line route.

Following the successful operation of the Green Line service, an Orange Line service is expected to launch soon. The 3.9-kilometre track for the Orange Line took more than six years to complete. Vuses have now started arriving for the project.

The launch of the Green Line BRT service is a good omen for Karachi and its residents, who are hoping that more projects of the kind will provide them with safe, reliable and convenient transport.

The author is a writer and publicist based in Karachi.  Email: kzk1972@gmail.com   Twitter:  @KhurramZiaKhan