“There have been as many as 20 transport-related projects that the Sindh government started with great fanfare, ran them for a while and then let them erode into obscurity”, claimed Ronald deSouza of Shehri – Citizens for a Better Environment.
He was speaking at a public hearing to discuss the environmental impact of Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. The hearing was organised by EMC Pakistan Private Limited and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Karachi Transformation Strategy, Urban Transport Scheme, Karachi Circular Railway, Sindh Road Transport Corporation, Green Bus and many such projects were kicked off by the Sindh Government but never realised, he said.
DeSouza fears that the fate of the Green Line bus project will be similar to the other projects of the past. He pointed out that the owner of the project was the federal government, whose role was simply to construct its infrastructure and later hand it over to the Sindh government.
“Sindh government will be a very strange owner of this project,” he said, suggesting that the project must in fact be owned and run by the government of Karachi. “How will the provincial government be able to run this project?” he questioned.
Ronald also expressed concern over the fact that there were around five different Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) lines being setup by five different parties. He also feared that Aurangzeb Park located on MA Jinnah Road could turn into a bus terminal if thousands of passengers thronged the place to get onto the bus.
Urban Resource Center’s Zahid Farooq echoed his concerns, fearing that Mazar-e-Quaid could possibly turn into a bus terminal with this project. “How will you facilitate the large number of commuters?” he asked.
Farooq also stressed the importance of underground passages. He said that elevated structures were not feasible for the elderly. On this, the chief engineer of EA consulting private limited, Syed Muhammad Tayyab, said they will provide elevators and lifts.
Farooq gave the example of Saima Tower constructed in front of the Matric Board Office. “With such high-rise buildings on the way, how will elevated structures be constructed?” he pointed out.
