KARACHI: The Sindh government has resolved to introduce 180 electric buses fueled by solar energy along the feeder routes of Karachi’s Bus Rapid Transit Service aiming to offer cleaner, more efficient public transportation while discontinuing the operational subsidy for public transport services.
This decision emerged during a meeting between Sindh Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar and a delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headed by F. Cleo Kawawaki, principal director and head of office of market development and PPPs.
The Chief Minister highlighted the Sindh government’s exploration of electric buses’ transformative impact on striving for cleaner and more efficient public transportation solutions in Karachi. The initiative targets the incorporation of electric buses on BRT feeder routes.
This move aligns with the provincial government’s focus on climate change, resilience, and carbon credits, with plans for the operational business to kick off by the end of December 2023.
Shakil Mangejo, Chairman of the Planning and Development Board Sindh, informed the ADB head about the implementation of the Green and Orange Lines of BRTS in Karachi, designed to accommodate an estimated daily passenger traffic of 50,000.
The integration of feeder route buses into existing and future lines is anticipated to contribute significantly to the long-term sustainability of the overall transport system. The transport secretary highlighted that around 170 to 180 electric buses would be introduced for the existing BRT routes of the Green and Orange Lines.
F. Cleo Kawawaki, leading the ADB delegation, expressed their commitment to collaborating with the provincial government to support this project. Additionally, the Chief Minister emphasized the urgency of addressing Karachi’s water scarcity issue, noting the city’s population exceeding 20 million with a water supply deficit.
Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation tasked the ADB with being the transaction advisor for an unsolicited proposal to construct a treatment plant at Haroonabad near Sindh Industrial Trade Estate (SITE). The existing water demand of industries at SITE stands at 40-50mgd, but due to shortages, KWSC only manages to supply around 2-3mgd.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
