Islamabad: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved of the decision to fund the Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)’s Red Line project — designed to provide the city with a sustainable and efficient mass transportation system — by sanctioning a loan of USD 71.81-million, according to news sources.
The AIIB approved of the loan in an executive board meeting held at its headquarters in Beijing on November 11.
Read: ECNEC approves Gwadar Eastbay Expressway, Karachi BRT, & other projects
The major components of this project include:
- A red line main corridor running 24.2-kilometre- long
- A 2.4-kilometre-long common corridor constructed with all BRT lines merging in the centre.
- Direct and feeder service routes constructed off-corridor.
- Procurement of natural gas-hybrid bus fleet and system.
Read: Sindh govt directs to operationalise Green Line BRT by March 2020
The launch of the Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)’s Red Line project is slated for August 2020 and the completion date is marked for December 2023. The mass transport system is expected to facilitate citizens by reducing the duration of trips, and by offering them high-quality services for affordable prices.