JICA expert presentation on Bus Rapid Transport System

KARACHI: An expert of JICA, Japan, has said that Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) implementation in Karachi required full- fledged dedicated BRT lanes and on the some intersections Intelligent Traffic Signalling System needs to be introduced for bus priority operation.

The expert, Associate Professor of Yokohama National University, Japan, Toshiyuki Okamura visited KMTC Office on October 10 and gave a detailed presentation on the global experience of BRT System, said a statement issued by CDGK here on Tuesday.

He said the BRT is a potential project for Clean Development Mechanism Study to get foreign funding and support towards friendly environment project.

Presentation was attended among others by DG KMTC, A. Rasheed Mughal, Director Planning and Coordination, Mirza Anwer Baig, Director Technical KMTC, Ghulam Rasool, Deputy Team Leader, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Study Team of Karachi Transportation Improvement Project, Shogo Uchida and Yu Iwahashi and Katsuya Kusunoki of JICA Study Team.

His current visit to Karachi is part of the feasibility studies of two corridors from Surjani Town to CBD area and Safoora Goth to CBD area, being untaken by JICA study team under the study project entitled "Karachi Transportation Improvement Project under "grant-in-aid."

JICA has already submitted an interim report on Karachi Transport Master Plan on June 30, 2011.

Subsequently, a seminar on the subject was organised by KMTC and JICA to interact with all stakeholders including transportation experts on September 29, 2011 at a hotel.

The outcomes of the Seminar would be incorporated in the Report of Transport Master Plan - 2030 along with feasibility Study Report of the corridors by June, 2012.

In the presentation, Toshiyuki Okamura apprised that the Bogota model of BRT System is a success story. The maximum rider ship on single BRT line is about 41,000 passengers per hour per direction, he said.

He said that the Bye-Articulated CNG Buses with 350 passenger’s capacity are operating on high travel demand BRT lines and non- articulated buses of 18 metres with 160 passenger’s carrying capacity also plying on the lower demand BRT lines.

The system is integrated with feeder buses of 70 passenger carrying capacity. E-ticketing fare system is integrated with feeder service, Toshiyuki Okamura said.

He also informed about the fleet composition of BRT and stations design - other facilitation programme. During the presentation, he also shared the BRT experience of Brazil, Korea, Jakarta and Indonesia.

As regard the BRT implementation of Karachi, he suggested that full-fledged dedicated BRT lanes are required and on some intersections Intelligent Traffic Signalling System needs to be introduced for bus priority operation.

However, on other intersections manual handling of traffic controlling may be possible, he added. He further informed that the BRTS buses are being operated by private operators under public sector organisation.

He told a questioner that the BRT was potential project for Clean Development Mechanism Study to get foreign funding and support towards friendly environment project.

The DG KMTC welcomed the BRT expert and said the presentation of the professor is a good opportunity to share experience and expertise of the expert of high calibre.

This exercise would go a long way for the improvement of public transport facility in the city with modern touch and technology, he added.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011