Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan officially launched the Green Line Bus in Karachi. This will be Karachi’s first mass transit system. PM Khan will inaugurate the first trial phase of the hybrid bus project under the Karachi Transformation Plan.
The bus service will comprise 80 hybrid buses that will ply a route of 22 kilometers from Surjani to the Municipal Park near Jama Cloth market with, 23 stations located on each km.
Important to note, the PTI government is actively promoting the Green Line Project. Earlier, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar shared a sneak peek of the project.
Read more: ‘Green Line’ modern bus system to be launched by PM in December
Karachi citizen's wait for a modern transport system is almost over. PM @ImranKhanPTI coming to karachi friday to launch the trial operations. This video gives you a sneak peak intp what the greenline operation will look like pic.twitter.com/uENoGuojhM
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) December 8, 2021
According to details, the Green Line bus stations will have modern state-of-the-art lifts and automatic ticketing systems which will facilitate passengers. Furthermore, digital screens installed on the bus stations will contain details about the arrival and departure of buses.
Additionally, each bus can carry up to 200 to 250 passengers with a fare between Rs 20 and Rs 50. The buses will also have a complete system from USB ports to wheelchairs.
PML-N’s campaign against PTI
Needless to say, ever since PTI announced the official launch of Green Line, the PML-N demanded credits for its contribution. To clarify, PML-N’s federal government initially announced the Green Line project back in 2014. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif performed the groundbreaking of Karachi’s first modern transport project in 2016.
Therefore, the PML-N claims that it is responsible for the project and accuses the PTI government of wrongly taking credit. PML-N also announced that it will hold a separate symbolic inauguration of the project.
Asad Umar says PML-N's 'sole contribution' to Green Line was starting track's construction pic.twitter.com/xYKGfYVKuK
— Mohsin Nisar Malik (@MuhsenNysar) December 10, 2021
Important to note, the PTI government completed the project in a short span of time. Last year the federal government issued an international tender for the purchase of 80 buses for the Green Line Metro Bus project. The first consignment of around 40 buses arrived in Karachi in August. The PTI government is hopeful that the Green Line Bus will begin functioning as part of the routine from 25th December.
Read more: Karachi’s transport crisis: Blue Line on hold as Green Line project’s track is completed