Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) has officially announced a change in name of Karachi Bus and Mass Rapid Transit (KBMRT) system to Karachi Breeze.
Under Sindh Government’s Mass Transit Master Plan, name of the system was approved by Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah in May this year after deliberation among stakeholders.
The concept behind name comes from ease in transport that BRT will provide to general public for their daily commute. The BRT is a high-quality bus-based mass transit system able to move large numbers of people from their starting points to their destinations, reliably, efficiently, comfortably and affordably.
Dedicated and comprehensive supplementary feeder route services will ensure BRT vehicles not to mix up with rest of traffic system, hence allowing it to move faster without any delay.
SMTA Managing Director Muhammad Athar said that commuters of metropolitan city would feel relief from past traveling congestion and this system would provide them a comfortable and reliable transport services.
In Karachi, most people travel in private vehicles, which include cars and motorbikes. According to research conducted on behalf of Karachi Bus Rapid Transit Project by a Joint Venture of LOGIT, Rebel and Exponent in 2018, these private vehicles account for 84 percent of total traffic mix but carry only 54 percent of all people traveling. In contrast, public transport accounts for only 3 percent of all vehicles but transports about 34 percent of all travellers.
Karachi Breeze aims to solve these problems via six BRT corridors which include Green Line, Red Line, Yellow Line, Aqua Line, Purple Line and Orange Line as per Mass Transit Master Plan.
The Mass Transit Master Plan also includes high travel demand corridors which are comprised of revival of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Brown Line and BRT Blue Line, which will eventually become a mass rapid transit line as well.On completion Karachi Breeze will provide a comprehensive and integrated network of BRT corridors to city’s commuters with capability of transporting millions of people on daily basis.
Published in Daily Times, October 30th 2018.