Urban Transport: The Impact of the Green Line BRT on Traffic Congestion Level in the M.A. Jinnah Road Corridor.

Abstract

Karachi is the 12th largest city in the world with over 20 million people. The city struggles with severe traffic congestion, resulting in a poor standing in the global livability index, the 4th least livable city in the world. The traffic congestion is one of the major reasons for the city's low ranking. Though late but the Sindh government has introduced various public transportation systems, including the Metrobus, Orange Line, and Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) to reduce traffic jams along the M.A. Jinnah Road Corridor. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the Green Line BRT in reducing traffic congestion on the M.A. Jinnah Road Corridor. The study has employed a mixed-method research design in obtaining quantitative and qualitative data from primary and secondary sources. The primary data has been collected through an online self-administered questionnaire, combining closed-ended and open-ended questions. The study has used a non-probability sampling technique known as convenience sampling. The results from primary and secondary sources show that the Green Line BRT has largely been ineffective in reducing traffic congestion on the M. A. Jinnah Road so far, as only 25% of respondents explicitly opined in favor of the effectiveness of the BRT, and 34% were satisfied with the Green Line BRT services. The study has identified several challenges relating to sustainable urban mobility, including delays in the construction and expansion of BRT, a lack of smart transportation solutions, an increasing number of motorbikes and cars, rapid urbanization, non-functional traffic signals, inefficient traffic police, poor urban planning, and limited outreach of the BRT system. Based on the primary and secondary sources, the study recommends improving the traffic management, law enforcement, infrastructure development, construction of public mass transit systems, encroachment removal, effective urban planning, governance, and effective engagement with international agencies under a public-private partnership framework as strategic solutions to solve the problem of traffic congestion on various roads in Karachi including the M.A. Jinnah Corridor.