Karachi Yellow Line BRT to Acquire 256 Electric Buses Under World Bank-Funded Project

KARACHI: The Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Karachi will include the procurement of 256 electric buses as part of a major initiative aimed at modernizing the city’s public transport system, according to project documents.

The project, being developed with financial assistance from the World Bank, is designed to provide improved urban mobility in Pakistan’s largest city. Once operational, the system is expected to serve between 260,000 and 300,000 passengers daily.

According to the available documents, the Yellow Line BRT will be developed as a third-generation transit system integrated with Karachi’s Breeze Network. The 21-kilometre dedicated corridor will run from Dawood Chowrangi to Numaish and will also connect to the shared corridor leading towards Tower.

A total of 28 stations will be constructed along the route, including 22 at ground level and 6 underground stations. The system is projected to handle approximately 78 million passengers annually.

Officials estimate that the improved travel efficiency will save around 3.6 million hours of commuting time each year due to reduced travel delays and improved service quality.

The buses operating on the corridor are expected to maintain an average speed of 21 to 26 km/h, compared to the current city traffic speed of less than 10 km/h.

The planned fleet of 256 electric buses will include 19 buses of 9 meters, 133 buses of 12 meters, and 104 articulated buses of 18 meters in length. An additional 8% reserve fleet capacity has also been included to ensure uninterrupted operations.

The system will operate through six main routes and three feeder services, providing connectivity from surrounding residential areas to the main BRT corridor.

Construction work on the Yellow Line project is currently underway, with authorities targeting the commencement of operations in January 2028. Delivery of electric buses is expected to begin in February 2028.

Officials said the project represents one of the largest investments in sustainable urban transport in Sindh and is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion, improve travel times, and promote environmentally friendly public transportation in Karachi.