ADB signals US $3b KCR revival, electric bus extension

2026-02-25 - 21:23

Zubair Yaqoob Sindh government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have agreed in principle to advance the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and expand electric bus services across major cities, as part of a proposed $3 billion development pipeline for 2026–2029. The understanding was reached at a high-level meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and an ADB delegation led by Country Director Emma Fan at the Chief Minister’s House. Opening discussions on Karachi’s mounting mobility challenges, the chief minister described the long-stalled circular railway as a “lifeline” for the megacity. He said the KCR would serve as a feeder network to bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors and help ease congestion in Pakistan’s largest urban center. “Karachi Circular Railway is not just a transport project; it is a lifeline for the city,” Shah said, adding that the provincial government is seeking both financial and technical assistance to modernize the rail loop with integrated urban planning. ADB, which is already financing the Karachi BRT Red Line project, indicated support in principle for the railway revival and advised the provincial authorities to submit the required documentation for board consideration.