PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the much-awaited first modern transport system, Green Line project, on Friday.
According to the spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s House, the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System was completed at a cost of Rs35.5 billion. In Green Line Bus Fleet there are 80 articulated hybrid buses. The buses are equipped with a cell phone charging port facility and priority seats for elderly and differently-abled. Green Line BRT is a first mass transit in Karachi with daily ridership capacity of 135000 passengers. There will be a trial operation about two weeks after the inauguration, after which a commercial operation will be launched on December 25.
The company providing buses to the Karachi Green Line project said that the buses are the most modern compared to those operating in Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar BRT. “These buses are Euro 3 standard. Automatic charging batteries will also be used which will save fuel as well as benefit the environment,” the company said. “The buses are equipped with a special system which will automatically put out the fire in case of engine fire.” Each bus has a total capacity of 190 passengers.
The minimum fare of Green Line has been fixed at Rs15 while it will be possible to buy a card of Rs100 for full day. Separate seats have been reserved for women and persons with disabilities in Green Line.
PM sees autonomy for Karachi
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Green Line Bus Project in Karachi, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that no modern city can function without a better transport system. “Most of the revenue is generated from Karachi. A prosperous Karachi can bring prosperity in entire country.” Therefore, he suggested, Karachi should be granted full financial autonomy. The Prime Minister said that in the past, no steps were taken to improve the management system of the city. He alleged that the city of lights have been pushed into ruins by the PPP government.
The Prime Minister said that it has been decided to introduce Universal Health Scheme in Pakistan. “All the families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have health insurance while from January to March every family in Punjab will get such insurance.” He said that people of Sindh should also get health insurance.
Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar has said that Pakistan Peoples Party, which has been in power for six times, could not build a single mile motorway in Sindh. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Green Line Bus Service in Karachi, Asad Umar also lashed out at PML-N and said that PML-N did not give its right to Karachi despite remained in government three times. “Under the PTI government, tax money is not being used for building towers in Dubai, but to solve the problems of the people,” the minister said.