256 electric buses to be procured for Karachi BRT project

Project estimates suggest system will handle nearly 78 million passenger trips annually.

As many as 256 electric buses will be procured for Karachi’s Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which is expected to serve up to 300,000 passengers daily upon completion.

According to project documents, the Yellow Line BRT has been designed as a modern third-generation transit system integrated with the Karachi Breeze Network. The project is being developed with financial assistance from the World Bank and aims to improve public transport services in Pakistan’s largest city.

The 21-kilometre dedicated BRT corridor will run from Dawood Chowrangi to Numaish and connect to the common corridor extending to Tower. The route will include 28 stations, comprising 22 at-ground stations and six underground stations.

Project estimates suggest the system will handle nearly 78 million passenger trips annually. Improved service reliability and reduced travel times are expected to save around 3.6 million passenger-hours each year.

The buses operating on the corridor are expected to maintain average speeds of 21 to 26 kilometers per hour, compared to the current traffic speed of less than 10 kilometers per hour on Karachi’s roads.

The planned fleet will consist of 19 buses measuring 9 meters, 133 buses of 12 meters, and 104 articulated buses of 18 meters. An additional eight percent reserve capacity has also been included to ensure smooth and uninterrupted operations.

The transport network will operate through six direct routes and three feeder services, allowing passengers from nearby areas to access the main BRT corridor more conveniently.

Construction work on the Yellow Line project is currently underway, with authorities aiming to begin BRT operations in January 2028. The delivery of the electric buses is expected to start in February 2028.

The project represents one of Sindh’s biggest investments in sustainable urban transport and is expected to reduce traffic congestion, shorten commuting times, and promote environmentally friendly public transportation in Karachi.