Karachi Metrobus

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The Karachi Metrobus (Sindhi: ڪراچي ميٽروبس‎, Urdu: کراچی میٹرو بس‎) is a 112.9 km (70.2 mi) bus rapid transit network under-construction in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.^[1][2][3] The expected daily ridership is estimated at 350,000 with a total of 109 km of dedicated bus routes^[2] Upon completion, it will become the largest metro bus network in Pakistan. The Karachi Metrobus project was inaugurated on 25 February 2016 and is expected to begin operation by February 2017.^[4]

Lines

The system will be divided into 5 dedicated lines or "busways".

Green Line

The Green Line will extend from Merewether Tower to Surjani Town at a total length of 26 km (16 mi). The Government of Pakistan will be financing the majority of the project.^[5] Construction of the Green Line began on February 26, 2016. The line will have 22 bus stations when completed.^[6] Engineering Associates have been contracted as the designers and supervision consultants for Green Line while a Consortium of "Ernest & Young", "Exponent Engineers" & "Haider Mota & BNR" have been contracted for "Transaction Advisory for Bus Operational Plan".^[7][8][9] The government is in process of acquiring a 18-metre-long 24 buses.^[10] In addition, a Command and Control Centre is being established at the Garden West.

On October 2016, the CDWP revised the cost of Karachi metro bus project upwards by 52% to Rs 24.6 billion in addition to approving changes in its design. On December 2014, the Ecnec had approved the mass transit project at a cost of Rs16.1 billion after it cut the length of the route by 3.2 km. However, the provincial government expressed concerns and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced to extend the scope and length of the project.

Orange Line

The Orange Line construction started on June 11, 2016 and is the smallest of the five line's spreading over 3.9 km with only four stations.[11] Orange line will be spread over 2.3km, of which 0.7km will be elevated while 1.5km will be on ground, whereas, the 1.5 km will be semi dedicated section. This project would be constructed in two phases and is likely to completed by 2017. The line will have the capacity to carry up to 50,000 passengers daily with a station after every kilometer. The line begins from Shaharh-e-Quaideen near TMO Office Orangi to Board Office, where it will join the Green Line BRT, through a rotary flyover. The project, worth Rs. 2 billion, is entirely funded by the Sindh government.

In March 2017, the foundation stone of the second phase as well as of the depot was laid which would complete by July 2017. The depot would have the capacity for the parking of 35 buses.

Blue Line

The Blue Line will extend from Merewether Tower to Bahria Town at a total length of 30 km (19 mi). It will be the first privately funded transport system in Pakistan being funded by the Bahria Town Group.^[11] At the moment the Blue Line is undergoing preliminary design with construction likely to begin in the first quarter of 2017.^[12][13][14]

Yellow Line

The 26.5-kilometre-long Yellow Line project — from Landhi to New M.A. Jinnah road — is to be built with an estimated cost of Rs.14.4 billion with 104 new buses on the route. According to the contract terms, the Sindh government would share 14 per cent of the total cost and the Chinese company would share 16 per cent. At the same time, it has to arrange a loan for remaining 70 per cent of the cost through its local [Chinese] financial institutions.

Red Line

The Red Line has been approved and will extend from Model Colony to Regal Chowk Via Safoora Goth and University Road at a total length of 27 km (17 mi). The project is estimated at $184.23 million where ADB, DFID (UK) and Sindh would share at a rate of 52 percent, 12.62 percent and 34.42 percent respectively.^[15]

Fleet

The government is in the process of acquiring 18-metre-long 24 buses for the Green Line.

See also

• Lahore Metrobus
• Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus
• Multan Metrobus

References