Karachi Breeze
{{Short description|Mass Transportation System}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox Public transit
| name = Karachi Breeze (BRT Metro Bus)
| image = Karachi Breeze Logo.svg
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| locale = Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| transit_type = BRT
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| system_length = {{convert|112.9|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| lines = 6
2 operational
2 under-construction
2 planned
| vehicles =
| stations = ~90
| daily_ridership = ~58,000{{Cite news |last=Ayub |first=Imran |date=2024-05-17 |title=Karachi's BRT Green and Orange lines now go hand in hand |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1833948 |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=Dawn}} daily (Green and Orange lines)
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| operator = Government of Sindh
Government of Pakistan
| owner = Government of Sindh
Government of Pakistan
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| website = {{URL|https://www.breezekarachi.com/}}
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File:Routes under Karachi Breeze.png]
Karachi Breeze is a {{convert|112.9|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} network of bus rapid transit routes under construction in Karachi, Pakistan. Construction began in 2013,{{cite news |title=PM announces Rs 15bn for Karachi 'Green Line' bus project |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1118317/pm-announces-rs15bn-for-karachi-green-line-bus-project |date=July 10, 2014 |work=Dawn | access-date=10 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710160923/http://www.dawn.com/news/1118317/pm-announces-rs15bn-for-karachi-green-line-bus-project |archive-date=10 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=وزیراعظم کا کراچی میں 15 ارب روپے کے ریپڈ بس منصوبے کا اعلان |url=http://www.express.pk/story/270019/ |date=July 10, 2014 |work=Express |access-date=July 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711071444/http://www.express.pk/story/270019/ |archive-date=July 11, 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Prime Minister Announces to Launch Metro Bus in Karachi |url=http://www.pakistantribune.com.pk/16911/prime-minister-announces-launch-metro-bus-karachi.html |date=10 July 2014 |work=Pakistan Tribune |access-date=10 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144406/http://www.pakistantribune.com.pk/16911/prime-minister-announces-launch-metro-bus-karachi.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead}} two lines are operational and two lines are under construction as of September 2022,{{Cite web |date=2022-03-15 |title=Karachi Red Line Bus Construction Work Begins, Sindh Police Announces New Routes |url=https://propakistani.pk/2022/03/15/karachi-red-line-bus-construction-work-begins-sindh-police-announces-new-routes/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=propakistani.pk}} with 2 more planned. The current ridership of the first line is 55,000 passengers per day, with a total of 109 km of dedicated bus routes. Upon completion, it will become the largest BRT network in Pakistan, and will connect to the Karachi Circular Railway.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan Railways announces restoring KCR from Monday {{!}} SAMAA|url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/2020/11/pakistan-railways-announces-restoring-kcr-from-monday/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Samaa TV}}
History
Nawaz Sharif, during a high-level meeting in Karachi on 10 July 2014, announced funds to launch the BRT Green Line to alleviate the severe traffic congestion in the city.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/11/29/slow-pace-of-work-on-green-line-irks-citizens/ |title=Slow pace of work on Green Line irks citizens |website=www.pakistantoday.com.pk |access-date=2018-02-05}} The slow pace of work on BRT Green Line has irked citizens as the digging work on main arteries has resulted in congestion of traffic, which the former prime minister blamed on the Sindh government.{{Cite news |url=http://92newshd.tv/nawaz-declares-sindh-govt-responsible-delay-green-line-project/#.WnefZ5M-cUs |title=Nawaz declares Sindh govt responsible for delay in Green Line project – 92 News HD Plus |last=news92hd |date=2018-02-02 |work=92 News HD Plus |access-date=2018-02-05}} In 2018, the name of the project was changed from Karachi Bus and Mass Rapid Transit system to Karachi Breeze.{{Cite web |date=2018-10-29 |title=SMTA officially changes name of KBMRT system to Karachi Breeze |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/316289/smta-officially-changes-name-of-kbmrt-system-to-karachi-breeze/ |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=Daily Times}}
Lines
The system will be divided into 6 dedicated lines or "busways". Currently, the Green and Orange lines are operational, the Red and Yellow lines are under-construction, and the Blue and Brown lines are in their planning stages.
= Green Line =
{{Main|Green Line - Karachi Metrobus}}
The green line is extend from Merewether Tower in central Karachi, to Surjani in northern Karachi, with a total length of {{convert|26|km|abbr=on}}. The Government of Pakistan financed the majority of the project.{{Cite web |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1055243/ground-breaking-ceremony-green-line-brt-finally-gets-go-ahead/ |title=Ground-breaking ceremony: Green Line BRT finally gets go-ahead – The Express Tribune |date=2016-02-26 |website=The Express Tribune |access-date=2016-06-11}} Construction of the Green Line began on February 26, 2016 ended in December 2021.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-10 |title=Green Line bus service becomes fully operational in Karachi |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/924126-green-line-bus-service-becomes-fully-operational-in-karachi |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=The News International}} The line has 22 bus stations.{{Cite news |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1241849 |title=Karachi's Green Line bus will be more beautiful than Lahore metro: PM Nawaz |date=2016-02-26 |work=Dawn |access-date=2016-06-11}} Engineering Associates had been contracted as the designers and supervision consultants for Green Line while a Consortium of "Ernest & Young", "Exponent Engineers" & "Haider Mota & BNR" had been contracted for "Transaction Advisory for Bus Operational Plan".{{Cite news |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1064250/extension-plans-green-line-goes-the-extra-mile// |title=Green Line goes the extra mile – The Express Tribune |date=2016-03-11 |work=The Express Tribune |access-date=2018-06-09}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1241849 |title=Karachi's Green Line bus will be more beautiful than Lahore metro: PM Nawaz |date=2016-02-26 |work=Dawn |access-date=2018-06-09}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.dawnnews.tv/news/1034126/ |title=گرین لائن ٹرانسپورٹ منصوبہ |last=اداریہ |date=2016-02-29 |work=Dawn News |access-date=2018-06-09}} The line is served by 80 18-metre-long buses.{{Cite web |url=http://pprasindh.gov.pk/tenders/34059TRANSPORT&MASS280717.zip |title=Tender for Green Line and Orange Line |date=2017-07-28 |website=Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority |access-date=2017-08-17}} In addition, a Command and Control Centre is established at Garden West.
The green line:
{{div col}}
- Numiash Station (to Blue Line)
- Patel Para (Guru Mandir) Station
- Lasbela Chowk Station
- Sanitary Market (Gulbahar) Station
- Nazimabad No.1 Station
- Enquiry Office Station
- Annu Bhai Park Station (to North Nazimabad KCR Station)
- Board Office Station ( to Orange Line )
- Hyderi Station
- Five Star Chowrangi Station
- Jummah Bazar Station
- Erum Shopping Station
- Nagan Chowrangi Station
- U.P. More Station
- Road 4200 (Saleem Centre) Station
- Power House Chowrangi Station
- Road 2400 (Aisha Complex) Station
- 2 Minute Chowrangi Station
- 4K Chowrangi Station
- Karimi Chowrangi Station
- KDA Flats Station
- Abdullah Chowk Terminal.
{{div col end}}
= Orange Line =
{{Main|Orange Line - Karachi Metrobus}}
The Orange Line, also called the Edhi Line in honour of philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi,{{Cite web |date=2016-12-13 |title=Karachi's Orange Line BRT renamed after Edhi |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1262246/loving-memory-orange-line-brt-renamed-edhi |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=The Express Tribune}} is the shortest of the five lines, spreading over 3.9 km with only four stations within Orangi. The Orange line will be spread over 2.3 km, of which 0.7 km will be elevated while 1.5 km will be on ground, whereas, the 1.5 km will be semi dedicated section. The project is entirely funded and built by the Sindh government. It was started in 2016, but finally the project was completed in 10 Sep 2022 .{{Cite web |title=orange-line-bus-service-inaugurated-in-karachi |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/439412-orange-line-bus-service-inaugurated-in-karachi |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=Nation}} The project was criticised as being the only BRT line of the system that was not devised in conjunction with community input.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-15 |title=Construction work likely to complete in 6 months |url=https://nation.com.pk/30-Jan-2022/construction-work-on-phase-ii-track-likely-to-complete-in-next-six-months-sindh-governor |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=Nation}}
The line transports around 3,000 passengers daily,{{Cite news |last=Ayub |first=Imran |date=2024-05-17 |title=Karachi's BRT Green and Orange lines now go hand in hand |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1833948 |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=Dawn}} with a station located at every kilometre of its length. The line begins at Shahrah-e-Quaideen, near TMO Office, to Board Office, where it joins the Green Line BRT, through a rotary flyover.
The orange line:
- AO Chowk Terminal (to Green Line)
- Orangi Station (to Orangi KCR Station)
- Orangi Town Terminal
= Blue Line =
The Blue Line will extend from Merewether Tower in central Karachi, to Bahria Town in northeast Karachi at a total length of {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} along Jahangir Road, and Shahrah-e-Pakistan to Sohrab Goth and onto Superhighway.{{Cite web |title=Blue Line Feasibility Study |url=http://greenline.gov.pk/doc/EID-CR(6)12149-FR-FEASIBILITY-03.pdf |access-date=16 December 2020 |archive-date=14 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614030549/http://greenline.gov.pk/doc/EID-CR(6)12149-FR-FEASIBILITY-03.pdf |url-status=dead }} It will be the first privately funded transport system in Pakistan being funded by the Bahria Town Group.{{Cite web |url=http://bahriatowntoday.com/bahria-town-karachi-to-start-bus-rapid-transit-system-brts/ |title=Bahria Town Karachi to Start "Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS)" |date=14 March 2014 |access-date=30 July 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808054749/http://bahriatowntoday.com/bahria-town-karachi-to-start-bus-rapid-transit-system-brts/ |url-status=dead }} Provincial Minister for Transport Syed Nasir Shah told Jang that the Blue Line will have 9 stations with 3 of them underground. Under the project, 357,000 passengers will be able to travel annually.
The blue line:
- Merewether Tower Terminal
- Numaish Chowrangi Station (to Green Line)
- Liaquatabad Station (to Liaquatabad KCR Station)
- Bahria Town Terminal
= Yellow Line =
The 22-kilometre-long Yellow Line project will connect Numaish Chowrangi near the Mazar-e-Quaid in central Karachi, to its eastern suburbs of Korangi and Landhi, terminating at Dawood Chowrangi.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-01 |title=Work on Yellow Line BRT pushed to next year |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2266571/work-on-yellow-line-brt-pushed-to-next-year |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=The Express Tribune}} It has an estimated cost of $428 million, of which $382 million will be financed by the World Bank.{{Cite web |title=WB assures working to wrap up Karachi Yellow line design {{!}} SAMAA|url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/2020/11/wb-assures-working-to-wrap-up-karachi-yellow-line-design/|access-date=2020-12-04|website=Samaa TV}} It will be serviced by 268 buses and 28 stations, including 22 at grade and 6 underground.{{Cite web |title=CM Murad Ali Shah orders transport department to complete Orange Line's infrastructure |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/722296-city-khi |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=www.thenews.com.pk}} Construction of the line was delayed due to the global coronavirus pandemic, and is expected to start in 2022, with completion in 2025.
The Yellow Line:
- Numiash Chowrangi Terminal (to Blue Line/Green Line)
- Landhi Station Terminal (to Landhi KCR Station)
= Red Line =
Construction of Red Line has been started and will connect central Karachi to its eastern suburbs.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-19 |title=Construction work on Red Line BRT begins in Karachi |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/03/19/construction-work-on-red-line-brt-begins-in-karachi/ |access-date=2022-05-09 |website=Pakistan Today}} It will extend from Numaish Chowrangi near the Mazar-e-Quaid in central Karachi, to Malir Halt in eastern Karachi via University Road.{{Cite news |last=Ebrahim |first=Zofeen T. |date=2020-01-23 |title=Karachi's green buses to be powered by dung |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1530089 |access-date=2020-12-16 |work=Dawn}} The system will be a "third generation" BRT system in which local buses can enter/exit the system at designated points, to travel between city streets and the dedicated bus corridor.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-25 |title=Red Line Bus project inches forward |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2269909/red-line-bus-project-inches-forward |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=The Express Tribune}} It will have a total length of {{convert|27|km|abbr=on}}. Construction was to start in August 2020, but was delayed to 2021 due to the global coronavirus pandemic, and was originally planned to be completed in 2022 at a cost of $503.2 million.{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Kashaf |date=2020-11-10 |title=Karachi BRT Red Line Project Will Boost Pakistan's Transport Sector Sustainably: ADB |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40031811 |access-date=2020-12-04 |website=Brecorder}} The projected ridership of the system is 300,000 passengers per day.
It is the first transportation project in the world to receive funding from the UN Green Climate Fund for its use of biomethane from cow dung to power buses. A facility will be established at Cattle Colony to produce 11 tonnes of biogas per day for the line's 213 buses.{{Cite web |title=BR-ePaper {{!}} Nov 29, 2019 {{!}} Page National News Page 5|url=https://epaper.brecorder.com/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=epaper.brecorder.com}} A system of drains will also be built along the line to harvest rainwater for horticultural use, while the drains will also be perforated to allow rainwater to recharge water tables.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-22 |title=Red Line to introduce rainwater storage system |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2273166/red-line-to-introduce-rainwater-storage-system |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=The Express Tribune}}
The red line:
- Regal Chowk Terminal (to Blue Line/Yellow Line)
- Regal Chowk Station Terminal (to KCR).
= Brown Line =
Brown line BRT will start from Singer Chowrangi of Korangi Industrial Area. The first station of Brown line BRT is integrated with Yellow line BRT. Brown Line BRT will pass through Shama Centre Shah Faisal Colony, Drigh Road where it has a combined station with Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), Nipa Chowrangi (combined station with Red Line and KCR), Sohrab Goth (combined station with Blue Line) and will end at Nagan Chowrangi (combined station with Green Line).
Fleet
The government has acquired eighty 18-metre-long articulated buses for the Green Line, twenty 12-metre-long buses for the Orange Line and is in the process of acquiring twenty-five 18-metre-long articulated buses for the Green Line Extension project.{{cite web |title=Bus Operation of Green and Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit System in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |url=http://pprasindh.gov.pk/tenders/34059TRANSPORT&MASS280717.zip |publisher=Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority |access-date=17 August 2017}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Public transport in Karachi}}
{{Bus rapid transit in Pakistan}}
{{Karachi topics}}
{{Authority control}}