KARACHI: Planning Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiyar on Monday said the federal government-funded Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project should be operational in next nine months.
“The centre would provide fund for the 35 billion rupees project. No changes have been made in Green Line bus project. It will be executed according to its original plan,” Khusro Bakhtiyar said while addressing a press conference in Karachi. He was flanked by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail.
“It will take time to bring reforms in Karachi. The centre would also introduce Red Line transport project in Karachi. 61 billion rupees will be spent on Yellow Line by World Bank, while Red Line will be constructed with grant provided by the Asian Development Bank,” the planning minister said adding that the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had approved both the projects.
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He also admitted that water provision was another crucial issue in the megalopolis.
“A project ‘Karachi A Livable City’ worth Rs34 billion has been approved by the ECNEC and the funds would be provided to the local government for this,” he said.
He said the systems of water supply, sewerage, water treatment and solid waste disposal were in deplorable condition in the province for negligence spanning last 12 to 14 years.
In assistance with the international aid donor organisations, the federal government planned to spend Rs440 billion in Karachi for development projects.
Hopefully, the provincial government would timely initiate the projects and complete them, he added.
“The Karachi Circular Railway is worth 300 billion rupee project, under the CPEC. On Nov 6, Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) will meet and the KCR would be discussed on priority basis in this meeting.
“Once the issues of transport, sewerage, drainage, water supply and cleanliness are resolved, the real potential of the city would emerge,” he said.
He said to redress water and sanitation issues of Karachi, it would take 250 billion rupees.
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