TransKarachi, a public sector company established and owned by the Government of Sindh to carry out the project implementation of the $504 million Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (KBRT) Red Line, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), with the reputable Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw (NED) University of Engineering & Technology.
Following the partnership, TransKarachi and NED University will collaborate on capacity building initiatives in the areas of transport infrastructure, drainage design as well as resource optimization and gender mainstreaming to facilitate the performance of the entire KBRT Red Line network for citizens of Karachi. The two institutions will also work on research projects and papers with an emphasis on developing traffic flow models, real-time traffic measurement tools and smart traffic controls and jointly execute surveys, focus group discussions and interviews to create awareness about urban public transport and address gender-based violence.
To mark the occasion, an MoU Signing Ceremony was held at the Senate Hall, Main Campus – NED University on the 15th of September 2022. Present at the occasion from TransKarachi were: Chief Executive, Wasif Ijlal, General Manager Operations, Ahmad Kidwai, General Manager, Planning and Infrastructure, Dr. Murtaza Bukhari, and Chief Financial Officer, Jatin Kumar while NED was represented by Vice Chancellor, Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Chemical & Process Engineering, Dr. Tufail and senior faculty members.
Speaking at the occasion, Wasif Ijlal, CEO, TransKarachi said, “We are extremely honored to partner with an institution of such great repute. NED University is the hub of technology and I truly believe that this collaboration will transform the public mass transit landscape of Karachi.”
The Vice Chancellor of NED University, Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodi said, “Our team at NED University takes deep pride in helping TransKarachi achieve its vision of creating a world class mass transit system for the people of Karachi. NED University produces thousands of qualified engineers every year and we will stay committed to provide our support in terms of capacity building and technical capabilities. The public may face some hindrances during the construction of the BRT Red Line, but our focus is on the bigger picture.”
The $504 million Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project is sponsored by the Government of Sindh, with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and co-financiers, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the French Agency for Development (AFD), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
