Following six years of suspension caused by administrative and approval-related hurdles, phase II of the Karachi green line project is finally set to resume this week.
According to media reports, the extension will significantly improve travel between Surjani Town and Jamia Cloth Market by adding new stations and creating a smoother, faster route for thousands of daily commuters across major city corridors.
Federal spokesperson for Sindh Barrister Raja Ansari confirmed that construction would be completed within one year, with authorities targeting December 2026 as the deadline for full operation of the extended corridor.
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Ansari said the project had been stalled due to objections raised by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, who requested clarification on the issuance of the No Objection Certificate required before initiating Phase II work.
He stated that meetings between himself, PIDCL representatives, and the mayor successfully resolved all outstanding issues, allowing the Green Line Phase II revival to move forward under mutual agreement.
A joint press conference will be held by Ansari, Mayor Wahab, MQM-P leader Aminul Haque, and senior Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited officials to formally announce the restart on Monday afternoon.
Phase II consists of a 1.8-kilometre dedicated corridor stretching from Numaish Chowrangi to Municipal Park near Jamia Cloth Market, featuring three newly designed bus stations and modern passenger facilities.
READ: Karachi Green line extension to resume with revised plan, new stations
The development cost is estimated at Rs5 billion, and PIDCL, a federal government subsidiary, will oversee all construction activities in coordination with municipal stakeholders and city traffic management authorities.
Currently, Phase I of the Green Line operates 80 buses and serves nearly 80,000 passengers daily, providing rapid transit across a major stretch from Surjani Town to Numaish Chowrangi.
Once the second phase becomes operational, an additional fleet of 70 buses will be added to the system, increasing total ridership to more than 110,000 daily passengers across the expanded route.
Officials say the extension is expected to reduce traditional travel times, ease congestion on main roads, and support Karachi’s long-term public transport needs through a more efficient Bus Rapid Transit network.
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Ansari highlighted that although the Green Line project was launched in 2016, bureaucratic delays repeatedly halted progress, affecting commuters and slowing the city’s transport improvements.
He credited the coordination between the federal and Sindh governments, along with the mayor’s involvement, for eliminating bottlenecks and creating unified momentum for construction to begin again.
A formal ceremony announcing the restart will be held on Monday, marking the first significant advancement on the project in several years and signalling renewed commitment to improving Karachi’s public transport infrastructure.
