CM Sindh orders environment assessment of Blue Line BRT

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed to conduct environment assessment of  Blue Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) so that the project could be initiated under public private partnership. 

Blue Line BRT was initially planned to be about 48 km long from Gurumandir to Bahria Town via Teen Hatti, Liaquatabad No.10, Shahrah-e-Pakistan, Sohrab Goth and M-9 and additionally connecting Jinnah International Airport via M.M. Alam Road to Bahria Town.

As per plan, the BRT Blue Line would share the route with BRT Green Line from Gurumandir to Merewether Tower but was not taken up due to several reasons.

The government of Sindh received an unsolicited proposal for development of Blue Line BRT which is convertible to MRT in line with the recommendation from Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The proposal comprised of concept design of BRT Blue Line, technical details, project cost summaries, financing plan and financial model. The Sindh government has appointed an advisory consortium to validate the revised concept paper.

The overall route and infrastructure as well as the financial and legal structure of the BRT Blue Line have been changed on the recommendations of CM Sindh.

According to the evaluation by consultants, airport link will be deferred and BRT buses will be running in mixed traffic on M-9.

The Transport & Mass Transit Department (TMTD) received approval from CM Sindh to develop the infrastructure component in traditional mode and developed PC-1, after which the technical committee suggested modification in the document.

Subsequently, the modified PC-1 of Rs18 Billion was sent to Planning & Development Department by addressing the observations highlighted by technical committee.

Recently, TMTD has received an unsolicited proposal in August 2017 from consortium of EA Consulting for development of infrastructure for 9.8 km under PPP mode.

The chief minister directed the P&D department and TMTD to submit their detailed recommendations and arrange briefing so that it could be taken up.