Latest news with #BRT
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Long-term solution sought after sporadic outages leave Brooklyn residents enraged
The Tshwane metro is working to ensure speedy repairs and long-term infrastructure improvement on its secondary substations in Brooklyn, following sporadic outages. Residents in Brooklyn had to navigate life without electricity this week due to a power outage. Although the power has been restored, residents say they had to endure recurring outages, saying they were without power on Sunday as well as on the morning of July 23. Cobie Odendaal, a community member from Brooklyn, said the ongoing power disruptions affect thousands of people who depend on electricity to work, cook, and stay safe. 'The economic system comes to a standstill. People are losing electrical equipment. No fridge or tea,' she said. She said the uncertainty around power availability has disrupted her development work with children. 'I do a lot of my work online. If I don't have power or Wi-Fi, that work stops. People are frustrated.' Ward 56 Councillor Tiaan Dippenaar confirmed that this has become a weekly problem. 'The infrastructure is just not in a good state at all. It's a continuous cycle of no power, and the residents are extremely frustrated.' Dippenaar explained that while about 90% of affected properties had been reconnected by Tuesday evening, another explosion caused a fresh outage on Wednesday, plunging the entire ward into darkness again. 'They just come and fix, then leave again. And then it blows out, and they come and fix it again. We need to find the root cause and resolve it permanently.' The metro has confirmed that its teams responded to the first incident, identified multiple medium-voltage cable faults, and restored power to most of the area. According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the most recent outage was caused by a broken overhead line in Anderson Street, which has since been repaired. 'The metro acknowledges the frustration caused by repeated outages,' said Mashigo, adding that many of the faults affecting the Brooklyn area are the result of historical infrastructure damage. 'Some of the outages are linked to previous damage during Wi-Fi installations and the ongoing BRT project on Lynnwood Road. 'These factors, combined with ageing infrastructure, make the network vulnerable to unpredictable faults.' Mashigo noted that budget and human resource constraints have affected turnaround times in some cases, but reassured residents that the metro continues to prioritise critical repairs. Although no technical investigation has been launched into this week's incidents specifically, Mashigo confirmed that regular network inspections and condition assessments are ongoing across Tshwane. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CM charts road to reform, recovery, celebration
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah laid out a sweeping vision for provincial development, police reform, and flood rehabilitation, during a session with Civil Service Academy probationary officers and senior officials at the CM House. Development, flood recovery Focusing on infrastructure and post-disaster recovery, CM Shah detailed a development budget that includes Rs366.75 billion in foreign-funded projects. The government is prioritising the expansion of Karachi's road network, construction of new flyovers and underpasses, and the continued implementation of major transit projects like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Law and Order CM Shah highlighted the role of Sindh Police, with 162,000 personnel and a legacy of sacrifice marked by 2,549 martyrs. Addressing lawlessness in the Katcha area, he pointed to ongoing efforts to build roads, improve infrastructure, and boost police mobility. Intelligence Upgrades Shah cited the arrest of individuals involved in attacks on Chinese nationals and the foiling of major terror plots. He highlighted the Rs772 million Fusion Centre, equipped with intelligence, data analytics, and digital forensics, as a critical upgrade to Sindhs investigative capacity. Fiscal Decentralisation To decentralise police funding, the government has allocated Rs6 billion to police stations, granting station officers greater fiscal autonomy. Shah also noted improvements to police stations and the introduction of a Rs4.9 billion health insurance program covering officers and their families. Crisis Management Crisis preparedness has also seen significant strides. The government has established a Crisis Management Unit trained by Turkey's Anti-Riot Force. The unit is equipped with 2,000 anti-riot kits and includes female officers. Solid waste emergency project Shah also discussed the USD 100 million Solid Waste Emergency Project, which aims to modernise Karachi's waste management system. Key efforts include establishing state-of-the-art landfill sites at Jam Chakro and Dhabeji, improving emergency waste response, and reducing urban pollution. Delta Blue Carbon Project Touching on environmental sustainability, the CM praised the Delta Blue Carbon Project, which conserves 225,000 hectares in the Indus Delta. The project is expected to reduce 127 million tonnes of CO? emissions and generate government revenue through verified carbon credits. Independence Day In anticipation of Independence Day, Shah chaired a meeting on the upcoming celebrations and the "Maarka Haq" (Battle for Justice) events. He called on bankers and prominent industrialists across the country to actively participate. The Department of Culture will host a public concert and fireworks show at the National Stadium on August 13, while the Captain Sailor Shaheed Sports Gala will also be organised to mark the occasion. Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is planning another concert and fireworks display at Jahangir Kothari, with the date to be announced soon. The Sports Department will organise a marathon at Nishan Pakistan and Do Darya on August 10, followed by a donkey cart race at Sea View the same day. The Department of Fisheries is set to hold a boat race at the port and Keamari on August 9.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
World Bank team inspects Yellow Line BRT project
KARACHI: A high level delegation of World Bank visited the Yellow Line BRT project site office and inspected the ongoing construction near Jam Sadiq Bridge, Karachi Upon arrival at the site office, the delegation was received by Sindh Senior Minister and Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, and Managing Director of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority Kamal Dayo. The World Bank delegation comprised Regional Vice President Usman Deoni, Country Director for Pakistan Bolorma Amangabazar, Regional Practice Directors Fadia Saada and Almood Weitz, Operations Manager Gellius Draugelis, Special Assistant to the Regional Vice President Lubna Hadji, Operations Officer Hina Saleem Lotia, and Senior Executive Assistant Waleed Anwar. A meeting also convened upon the delegation's arrival at the Yellow Line BRT project site office. Sharjeel Inam Memon briefed the delegation comprehensively about the project, highlighting its importance, effect, and current status. He said that the Yellow Line BRT is a visionary and strategic project for Karachi, it will facilitate fast, affordable, and safe travel. The project will extend from Shahrah-e-Noor Jahan to the Korangi Industrial Area and Landhi and will serve millions of commuters on a daily basis. He stated that the Yellow Line will not only enhance citizen mobility but also stimulate economic activity. 'We aim to complete this project in line with international standards, with facilities comparable to those found in major global cities.' Memon emphasised that only electric buses will run on the Yellow Line BRT to ensure it remains fully environmentally friendly. He noted that Pakistan's first electric bus service and the Pink Bus Service for women were introduced under their leadership and are now operating successfully. Electric buses, he added, will significantly reduce environmental pollution and lead to substantial savings in fuel costs. He further said that an electric scooter program is being launched to give a boost to women, and in response to which, more than 8,000 applications were received. A major food chain company is also coming on board with the government to offer training, making sure women are well-equipped to be part of the scheme. Memon further said that this project is not merely a transport initiative; it's the groundwork for a social revolution. He also noted that work is progressing on the Karachi Circular Railway and the Karachi-to-Sukkur High-Speed Rail projects. He stated that to encourage investment, special economic zones have been established where investors are granted a ten-year tax exemption. While the rising value of the dollar has undoubtedly impacted the construction costs of the BRT project, the government remains committed to overcoming this challenge. The World Bank team commended the speed, vision, and quality of the Yellow Line BRT project and reiterated that Karachi, being a major city, needs more transport initiatives. They also expressed interest in the public-private partnership model and described the Sindh government's efforts as positive and forward-looking. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
PDP urges Sindh govt to revive KTC
KARACHI: Commenting that Lahore is getting electric tram system while Karachi lacks even a proper bus-based transport system, Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor has demanded from the Sindh government to revive Karachi Transport Corporation (KTC) and bring its 200 plus buses back to roads on urgent basis, besides establishing an integrated bodies to resolve the public transport issues of the megacity. He said resolving Karachi's public transport issues require a multi-faceted approach, addressing infrastructure, governance, funding, and urban planning. He said several KTC bus depots are present with workshops and hundreds of old buses parked there. He said these depots and old buses could be repaired and run on roads. He said a revived KTC is the easiest solution to help resolve public transport issues of Karachi. The megacity needs integrated mass transit systems. He said the government should complete and extend existing BRT lines including Green Line and Red Line to cover more areas. He said revival of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) is a must. The federal government and its railways department should modernize and operationalize KCR with electric trains, connecting key hubs. He asked to introduce underground/subway lines in high-density areas like Saddar, Gulshan and Nazimabad. He urged to improve the existing transport modes and regulate private buses & minibuses. He asked for enforcing route permits, fare controls, and safety standards. He asked to revamp KTC), and reinstate government-run buses with GPS tracking and fixed schedules. He said Karachi needs dedicated Bus Lanes, as congestion can be reduced by allocating exclusive lanes for buses. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Axios
4 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Durham unveils initial bus rapid transit plans
Following in the footsteps of Raleigh and Chapel Hill, Durham has unveiled initial plans for adding a bus rapid transit line through the center of the city. Why it matters: With dreams of light rail and commuter rail across the Triangle seemingly quashed, officials in the region have increasingly turned their eyes toward bus rapid transit as a way to improve transit options. Bus rapid transit is cheaper than rail and similar to traditional bus service, but provides bus-only lanes and preferred traffic lights to improve speed, increases frequency and adds larger stations. Plus, it aims to reduce car usage, and it can be integrated into existing infrastructure. Driving the news: The initial sketch of Durham's BRT plans includes a 7-mile route, stretching from Duke University Hospital on the west side of the city, through downtown and onto the Wellons Village shopping center in East Durham. Importantly, BRT would follow the most popular routes already existing for GoDurham, which has the second most ridership of any bus system in the state, according to Sean Egan, director of Durham's transportation department. Buses going from East Durham to downtown and downtown to the hospital already travel in 15-minute intervals and are often crowded, Egan said. The city is asking residents for feedback on the plans here. The other side: There has been some opposition to BRT in North Carolina, with some residents in Raleigh concerned over its potential to cause gentrification. In Charlotte, surveyed residents have opposed it over costs and a dislike of buses compared to light rail. Reality check: Durham's plans, which took about a year to draft, are still in the earliest stages and remain years away from breaking ground, like Raleigh is set to do in the coming weeks. These initial plans are part of a feasibility study designed to see how well an application would score for federal funding. Egan believes it would score well since it would provide service to large job centers, as well as economic development opportunities around Wellons Village. But at the same time, Egan noted, there are many projects already in the federal pipeline ahead of Durham, and it's unclear if scoring criteria for funding will change under the Trump administration. Zoom in: Part of the initial design process is built around the idea that Durham's BRT line might have to be completely locally funded, Egan said, through local partners and the transit tax county residents pay.
