Daily Times

Karachi: Bahria Town has entered into an understanding, and has signed a framework document, with China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation (CR20G), a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited for collaboration on undertaking the development of a Bus Rapid Transit Blue Line (Blue Line) project in Karachi. Agreement was inked between Chairman CR20G Deng Yong & Chairman Bahria Town Malik Riaz Hussain. CR20G has vast experience in undertaking construction and development of infrastructure projects including transport and mass transit projects worldwide. CR20G is already working in Pakistan on the Lahore-Abdul Hakeem motorway project having a value of over USD 1.5 Billion.

Bahria Town has already submitted an Un-Solicited Proposal (USP) to the Government of Sindh (GoS) for the Blue Line project (under public-private partnership mode) and tendering for the project is expected in the near future. Certain foreign financial institutions have also expressed their interest to partially finance the project.

Earlier last year, Bahria Town has also constructed and developed first ever project of private public partnership with private investment of PKR 1.8 Billion in Clifton Karachi. Project included Bahria Town Clifton Flyover along with 3 underpasses and 2 underground passages that add to the rich culture of the city.

For undertaking the BRT project, Bahria Town has appointed a consortium of leading advisors and consultants, including Mr. Enrique Penalosa, Mayor of Bagota, Columbia (as foreign technical consultant), M/s Exponent Engineers (as local technical consultant), M/s Riaz Ahmad and Company, Chartered Accountants (as financial advisors) and M/s Cornelius, Lane & Mufti, Advocates & Solicitors (as legal consultants). In his earlier tenure as Mayor of Bogota, Mr. Enrique Penalosa supervised and oversaw the development of “TransMilenio”, a BRT project having 12 lines totaling 112 km (70 mi) spread across the city, making it the world’s largest bus rapid transit system.

Bahria Town stands committed to delivering efficient and economical state-of-the-art transportation and mass transit projects for a prosperous Pakistan.Bahria Town is Pakistan’s leading private sector real estate developer and has been delivering highly successful world-class real estate development projects. Bahria Town’s vision and promise for its developments includes much needed transport and mass transit projects in line with the requirements of the 21st century for the benefit of the citizens of Pakistan and in particular the city of Karachi.