SMTA Awards Contract to Dar-al-Handasah in Pakistan

Karachi - September 01, 2021 (https://thefrontierpost.com/):

The government of Sindh, through Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA), Transport and Mass Transit Department (TMTD) along with the financial support of the World Bank is implementing Karachi Mobility Project – Yellow Line BRT Corridor to improve Mobility, Accessibility, and Safety along the Corridor.

Mr. Rabah (Dar Al Handasah) and Mr. Imran Bhatti (KMP) are signing the Contract

Karachi Mobility Project – Yellow Line BRT Corridor is a 21-KMs long corridor from Dawood Chowrangi to Numaish having 2 bus depots, 28 stations, 2 flyovers, 9 underpasses, and expected ridership of 300,000 people / Day. The bus fleet proposed for the Yellow BRT corridor is 268 Diesel-Hybrid Vehicles. The total cost of the project is $USD 438.9 Million. Mr. Awais Qadir Shah, Minister for Transport & Mass Transit Department announced that the Karachi Mobility Project is indeed another step forward to address the urban transport issues of Karachi City. He further announced that due consideration has been given to uplift the entire BRT corridor from façade to façade in order to ensure a systematic solution to urban infrastructure issues.

To implement the project, Sindh Mass Transit Authority awards contract to Dar-al-Handasah (Lead international Firm) joint venture NESPAK for Consulting Services for Preparation of Detailed Design, Procurement Support, and Construction Supervision of Karachi Mobility Project – Yellow Line BRT Corridor. Mr. Rabah – Area Coordinator – Dar-al-Handasah and Project Director, KMP, Mr. Imran Bhatti signed the contract. The Project Director, Mr. Imran Bhatti said “this is a vital step forward for the development of the project and people of Karachi will soon witness a bus rapid transit system which will provide a safe and reliable transport system”.

The lead-firm Dar-al-Handasah founded in 1956 is a privately-owned international consulting company active in engineering, architecture, planning, environmental consulting, project and construction management, facilities management, and economics. Joint Venture Company, NESPAK was established in 1973 as a private limited company by the Government of Pakistan., enjoys the reputation of being one of the top engineering consultancy organizations in Asia and Africa. 

The project will benefit approximately 700,000 people and improve mobility, transit travel times, safety, reliability, and passenger facilities along the corridor. It would address the transportation needs of the expansive population, employment growth, transportation, and economic development initiatives.

In 2015, a Chinese company, China Urban Elected Company, was finally given the tender, but the concessional agreement couldn’t be inked. The area coordinator of Dar-al-Handasah Rabah and Project Director Karachi Mobility Project, Imran Bhatti, signed the contract on Thursday. “This is a vital step forward for the development of the project and the people of Karachi will soon witness a bus rapid transit system, which will provide a safe and reliable transport system,” said Bhatti.

According to a press statement from the Karachi Mobility Project, the project will benefit approximately 700,000 people and improve mobility, transit travel times, and safety, reliability, and passenger facilities along the corridor. It would address the transportation needs of the expansive population, employment growth, transportation, and economic development initiatives.

The Sindh government announced on Thursday that the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) and Transport and Mass Transit Department (TMTD) with financial support from World Bank are moving forward with the construction of the Yellow Line BRT Corridor.

To implement the project, Sindh Mass Transit Authority has awarded Dar-al-Handasah and NESPAK the contract for consulting services required for the preparation of a detailed design, procurement support, and construction supervision of the Yellow Line BRT Corridor. 

Awais Qadir Shah, Minister for Transport & Mass Transit Department said at the contract signing ceremony that the Karachi Mobility Project is another step towards the redressal of urban transport issues of Karachi. 

He further announced that due consideration has been given to uplift the entire BRT corridor from façade to façade in order to ensure a systematic solution to urban infrastructure issues.

At the contract-signing ceremony, KMP Project Director Imran Bhatti said, “This is a vital step forward for the development of the project and people of Karachi will soon witness a bus rapid transit system which will provide a safe and reliable transport system”.

Yellow Line BRT Corridor is a 21 km corridor from Dawood Chowrangi to Numaish having 2 bus depots, 28 stations, 2 flyovers, 9 underpasses, and an expected ridership of 300,000 people per day.  

The fleet proposed for Yellow Line BRT corridor is made up of 268 Diesel-Hybrid Vehicles. The total cost of the project is $438.9 Million.