KARACHI, Pakistan: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Friday performed the ground breaking of the Rs 16 billion Green Line bus project to cater to 300,000 passengers a day.
Governor Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Information Minister Senator Pervez Rashid, provincial ministers and diplomats attended the event.
The prime minister unveiled a plaque to launch the Green Line project that was approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) at a rationalized cost of Rs 16085 million.
The Finance Division has released Rs 7961 million for FY 2015-16 under special arrangements.
The project would be undertaken by the Karachi Infrastructure Development Co. Ltd (KIDCL). Chief Executive Officer Saleh Farooqi said the project would not only involve latest technology, but would also be user and environment friendly and provide best available facilies to the users.
After the completion of the detailed design, bidding documents were floated in Aug and Sept. 2015, while the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report was approved in October.
The project would be completed in different phases. In Package No. GL 01–Â a 3.5 Kms RCC Elevated Section would be constructed from Gurumandir – Nazimabad Chowrangi.
The China Railway First Group – MATRACON JV has been awarded the contract of Rs 1,813 millions for the project.
Under the Package No. 2: Relocation of 1200 mm Water Trunk Main, Pumping Station and other Water Board Lines would be completed at a cost of Rs. 200 million. The works for this package commenced in December 2015.
In Package No. 3 an Integrated Intelligent Transportation System – IITS has been setup. This involved procurement of Integrated Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and Design Consultancy for Karachi Mass Transit Plan.
A German lead firm M/s. BLIC GMBH has been selected for the IITS task, at a cost of Rs.146 million;
In Package No. GL-02 from Nagan Chowrangi to Nazimabad Chowrangi, M/s. Ch. Abdul Latif & Sons (CALSON) have been selected for a Contract Price of Rs. 1,084 millions– for Eight (08) KM corridor, mostly at-grade with Three (03) Fly-overs at Sakhi-Hassan, 5-Star, and KDA Intersections.
Letter of Acceptance has been issued, and test pile executed, however a formal contract was yet to be signed.
In Package No. GL-03, Agha Construction Company has been selected for a contract of Rs. 785 millions to construct Board Office Interchange. It would enable physical integration of Green Line with Orange Line and Karachi Circular Railway (KCR).
Letter of Acceptance has been issued, while a formal contract was yet to be signed for want of Performance Securities and other codal formalities.
The project also involves relocation of utilities, which have been fully mapped; works commenced, and the task was being executed within approved cost.
The KIDCL has developed architecture of BRT Stations for Karachi in view of aesthetics, functionality and sustainability and keeping in view the experience of Lahore and Islambad metro bus stations.
The scope of the project has also been changed, within the approved cost and instead of the elevated component of 3.45 KM in the PC-I, 11.70 Kms dedicated elevated corridor was being provided at no additional cost.
Similarly the designing and feasibility of Integrated Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) for Karachi Mass Transit Plan, under Prime Minister directives has been provided at no additional cost.
Salient Features of the Project:
Start Point                                         KESC Power House Chowrangi, Surjani
End Point                                           Municipal Park, M.A. Jinnah Road.
Project Length                    22.0 KM
Infrastructure Length               18.4 KM
Elevated                        11.7 KM
At-Grade                        7.70 KM
Bus Stations                      22 Nos.
Average Distance b/w Stations         800 meters (400 meter
center-on-center)
BRT Route Corridor                 Completely Dedicated
Daily Passengers Trip                300,000
Elderly / Disabled Access Compliant Design
Environmental Friendly Design
Fully Integrated ITS & Automated Ticketing
Source: APP
