LAHORE: Punjab caretaker chief minister Justice (r) Ejaz Nisar has said that Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) will prove to be a milestone in overcoming traffic problems of the provincial metropolis and will result in provision of safe, comfortable and affordable transport facilities to the masses. Foundation stone of the project will soon be laid, he added. He was presiding over a high level briefing/meeting regarding Lahore Mass Transit System Project at Chief Minister's Secretariat Wednesday. Provincial Minister for Law Mehmood Sheikh, Minister for Communication and Works Mubashar Luqman, Minister for Forests Pir Saad Ahsanuddin, Chief Secretary
Punjab Salman Siddique, Secretary C&W Ahsan Raja, Secretary Transport Agha Nadeem and other high-ranking offices were present on the occasion.
Chairman Planning and Development Suleman Ghani gave a detailed briefing about the project. The chief minister said that Lahore Mass Transit System would comprise underground tube system and a most modern rail system at the ground level. He said that the first phase of the project would be from Hamza Town to Shahdara whereas the second phase would start from Thokar Niaz Baig and terminate at Lahore Station GT road. He said that implementation of the project would give an impetus to construction activities which would generate thousands of job opportunities. He said that the project would result in safe and affordable transport facilities and improvement in the overall traffic management of the City. He said that the project would also promote economic and tourist activities which would improve the socio-economic condition of the people and leave a positive impact on the overall economy of the province.
Punjab Chief Secretary Salman Siddique said that Lahore Mass Transit system would have a positive impact on environment and raise the living standard of the masses.
Chairman P&D Suleman Ghani said that this project would highlight the culture of Lahore as well as generate job opportunities at a large scale.
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Still no dates announced...no deadlines announced
25 comments:
OOOOO Many thanks indeed Faisal/Shoaib for posting the news.
But what about the urban transport system in Lahore.... Getting wrost day by day.... The buses that were plyed on the routes are till today neither repaired nor replaced with a new one. We hate to see wagons plying on roads as they are simply to lock commuters in jails. Daewoo brought 70 buses in lahore and since than relying on these and never bring more. So who to ask for the plight of general commuters who have to wait long hours for already congested buses .
To my utmost surprise!!!!! The previous C.M of Punjab is still claiming the Lahore Mass Transit Project as his achievement as that the project is all completed and running fully. Strange boasting for a project which has not yet been started....
LAHORE, Dec 26: District Nazim Mian Amer Mehmmood has said that there is no plan to cut trees for the widening of Canal Bank Road.
Talking to Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president-elect Muhammad Ali Mian during a visit to his residence here on Wednesday for congratulating him on his election, he said the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) was all set to widen Canal Bank Road for ensuring signalfree traffic movement from Wagah Border to Motorway.
A number of NGOs were raising a hue and cry about the felling of trees which was not a part of the plan. The trees would only be shifted a few feet away from their existing positions by using heavy machinery to facilitate the road widening.
He said the government was not only widening the road for solving the traffic problems being faced by the Lahorites but had also completed all the modalities for starting work on the mono-rail project which would be completed in three years.
Referring to demand of the traders to shift the hide market to the site of their choice, he said the CDGL was ready to accept the demand provided that the site was proposed keeping in view the requirements of next 100 years.
He said the LCCI should support the efforts being made by the CDGL for solving the problems being faced by the people and beautification of the provincial metropolis.
The president-elect assured the district nazim that the business community was striving to supplement the government efforts for the economic uplift of the country. It would contribute to the government efforts for solving the civic problems as well.
The meeting, which continued for over two hours, was also attended by LCCI senior vice-president Yaqoob Tahir Izhar, Punjab Economic Forum president Mian Anjum Nisar, former LCCI vicepresident Sheikh Mohammad Arshad, executive committee member Sheikh Shafique Riaz, Pakistan Hardware Merchants Association central chairman Usman Ghani and others.
No dates no time for inauguration?????? Three years time for completion of mono-rail project but lets see when it starts ......
I think with the present current political and economic turm oil, we should now stopped hoping for a better future in Pakistan with mega projects materializing..... Ahhhh no one to heal us in these present bleeding moments and the country on the verge of collapse.
Day by day as the country's political situation is getting worse to terrible, this project dream to be materialized is also hangs in balance. So lets see are we lucky enough to see this project transforming into reality
CDA asks int’l firms to submit bids for Mass Transit System Project
* Firms to submit financial bids within next two days
* Selected firm to complete feasibility study within 8 months
By Fazal Sher
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has asked five international firms to submit bids for the Rapid Mass Transit System (RMTS) Project designed for Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The short listed firms have been asked to submit their financial bids within next two days in order to undertake feasibility study on the much-needed project. The authority has also issued the Term of Reference (TOR) to these firms, a senior CDA official told Daily Times.
The official said that according to TOR, the selected firm would collect and review all planning and transportation data in both the cities to gather information for preparing a proper feasibility study.
Under the TOR, the selected firm would complete feasibility study within eight months, he said. The official said the firms had also been asked to conduct a comprehensive field survey to understand the present day travel requirements. The firm would also review the current travel patterns and operation of available pubic transport system to develop the RMTS system concept.
The private transport is a major means of mobility between the two cities. At present, minibuses, Mazdas, Toyotas and Suzuki vans numbering 1,600 are plying on 16 routes within and between the two cities. There is no organised bus service operating between the twin cites and the level of service offered by the minibuses is far below any acceptable standard, therefore, commuters have to rely on either two wheelers or other forms of private transport, says the TOR prepared by the authority.
According to the TOR, traffic volume of over 210,000 vehicles plies on three corridors connecting both the cities carrying around 525,000 passengers. The present population of Islamabad is 1.2 million and currently both the cities could accommodate a population of over 2.78 million.
The official said that no significant new transport infrastructure had been added between the two cities in the last decade. He said the main reason for the growing traffic problems in the twin cites was increase in population, associated urban development, high economic growth and increasing number of vehicles.
Watiting to hear the news about abondoning this project by the Government Wait wait n wait
regretting and simply grieving on the present current situation in pakistan. all goes vain
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has hired a consultant firm to prepare the feasibility report of the Rapid Mass Transit System project.
The Authority has awarded the contract for the consultancy to a Swedish firm M/s REJLERS that would work on the feasibility report in a joint venture with Nespak.
A CDA official said the Swedish firm has been hired as the lowest bidderamong the five shortlisted companies belonging to different countries.
The contract would be awarded to the firm on February 15 and a detailed study of the project would be commenced by March 1 that would take another eight months for completion.
The official said the Authority has started work on the project after approval of PC-II at the cost of Rs.56 million and invited application through national and international companies.
CDA, in this regard also invited technical and financial bids in September last year, which were responded by five prominent national and international firms.
After fulfilling all the formalities, the firm will be awarded the contract
for its detailed study. On the completion of detailed study the contract will be awarded in the light of its recommendations.
It is expected that the project of Rapid Mass Transit System between the twin cities will facilitate the general public within three to four years, in a phased programme, said Member Planning Brig. Nusratullah in a meeting here.
He said twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are growing at a rate of more than 4% per annum, comparatively higher than the national growth rate indicating significant migration into the twin cities.
Present population of Islamabad is 1.2 million. With present growth trends it is expected to increase to 7 million in twenty five years for the twin cities.
Member Planning said the scope of study of this project is to collect and view all planning and transportation data and information for the preparation of feasibility for an integrated urban rapid mass transportation system for twin cities.
Following is the news excerpt from a local daily newspaper about the introduction of new CNG bus system in Islamabad. When can we have this in LAhore
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday launched a CNG bus service between Faisal Mosque and Humak that would provide state-of-the-art transport facilities to commuters plying in these areas of the federal capital.
The bus service was jointly launched by CDA , Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and a private firm Mid Way Consortium as part of a comprehensive programme that is aimed at providing modern vehicular service to the residents of the twin cities.
The CNG buses will ply from Faisal Mosque to Humak Village covering various areas including F-8 Markaz, Karachi Company, New Katchery, Police Lines, Pirwadhai, Faizabad, and Khana Bridge.
In this connection an inauguration ceremony was held here Monday. Chief Commissioner ICT Hamid Ali Khan was chief guest on the occasion and Chairman CDA Kamran Lashari was also present.
Addressing the ceremony, Kamran Lashari hailed the launch of modern transport facility for the residents of the federal capital and also the working relationship between the CDA and the ICT. He also sought the same cooperation from the Rawalpindi City Administration with the hope that it would enrich the beauty of the twin cities and facilitate their residents.
He said the Authority is also working on the project of Mass Transit System and hoped that the shortlisting of the interested firms in this regard would be finalized shortly.
Chief Commissioner Hamid Ali Khan appreciated the launch of the new bus service and said new transport service would ease the problems being faced by the people while commuting on different routes of the federal capital.
The ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador of Azerbaijan and SSP Traffic Zubair Ahmed Hashmi.
A new bus terminal has been planned in the federal capital and work on the project would be initiated within a month. The over Rs 3 billion project would be constructed on 21 acres of land in sector I-11/4.
A Capital Development Authority (CDA) source told The Post that the bus terminal was a part of Capital Development Authority and Midway Consortium joint venture that had started an urban CNG bus service in the federal capital.
Capital Development Authority source said the terminal would be provided with waiting rooms, security check and control rooms and different terminals for urban and long route bus services.
A bank, post office and a hotel called as 'Aam Saraye' would also be constructed in the new terminal, the official said. When contacted, chief executive Midway Consortium Major Sohail, told The Post that the consortium had started an urban bus service in the capital with initial induction of 10 CNG buses. He said 300 CNG buses would be inducted in the urban bus fleet by the end of current year.
He said at present there was only one heavy CNG station in the twin cities. Two CNG refueling stations would be built in new bus terminal for the buses on urban routes, he added
KARACHI, Feb 13: Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro has underlined the importance of the Karachi Mass Transit system for all the cities, particularly the metropolis, to keep pace with economic development.
Presiding over a high-level meeting on the Karachi Mass Transit Project and other infrastructure development schemes held at the Governor’s House here on Tuesday, the prime minister said that this would help reduce traffic congestion on roads and create job opportunities for people.
He said the government took a number of initiatives for infrastructure development and ex pressed the hope that this paradigm of change would continue. He said public-private partnership was one of the most viable options being adopted by the government to encourage development in all sectors. The same could also be applied to this project, he noted.An integrated approach adopted by various departments was necessary to address bottlenecks in the implementation of the project, he said, and urged all the stakeholders to come up with proposals leading towards an early start of the project.
Mr Soomro said that the government fully recognised the importance of improving and expanding infrastructure service, which was an ingredient of economic and social development. The improved quality and service coverage, like the Mass Transit System, was vital for the country’s economy and livelihood of the people, he said. The primary aim of all government policies was to support and encourage people to contribute towards national economy, he added.
Among others, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Abdul Qadir Halepota, Caretaker Federal Minister for Finance Dr Salman Shah, Caretaker Federal Minister Faheem Ansari and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission were also present.—APP
Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that lasting solution to transport problem in Karachi lies in Mass Transit system on which work will start this year while work on Bus Rapid System is being started with Asian Development Bank's cooperation. He said the city government has solved the transport problem to a great extent by propagating the concept of signal-free corridors. He expressed these views during an inspection of ongoing development works of signal-free corridor-II and visit to various city areas late Saturday night.
He said work on third signal-free corridor from Saddar to Safura Goth will also start and complete this year. It will be constructed through Lines Area and Preedy Street and connected with New M A Jinnah Road at Quaid's Mazar.
Mustafa Kamal announced that a flyover would be constructed at Jail Chowrangi while a bridge will be constructed at University Road for going from Shama to Gulistan- e- Jauhar while Nipa would also be made signal-free.
He said a decision has been taken for construction of alternate houses for residents of Preedy Street and Lines Area and city government will provide them far better residential facilities in the same area.
He said the Haq Parast city government, not only made many roundabouts signal-free but also propounded the concept of signal-free corridors. He said that a dozen flyovers and underpasses would be constructed within two years. He said before the inauguration of signal-free corridor-II, the work on Corridor-III will be taken in hand and completed during this year.
He said through signal-free corridor-III, the people will get alternate route to Sharea Faisal and those wishing to go to airport will need not use this Sharea.
Mustafa Kamal said ADB agreed to make investment in Karachi's mega project after negotiations and city government will receive first instalment of dollars 300 million in April 2008 whereafter work on mass transit system, bus rapid system and other transport projects will start and completed at a fast pace.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will announce the name of the selected firm at the end of the week, which will conduct feasibility study for Rapid Mass Transit System (RMTS) project, a senior CDA official told Daily Times on Wednesday.
“Five days ago three out of five international firms were selected after reviewing their technical and financial bids. The selected three firms are from Sweden, Malaysia and France,” the CDA official said.
The final selected firm, he added, would conduct feasibility study for the RMTS between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The firm would complete the study within eight months after collecting and reviewing planning and transportation data of the twin cities and, he added.
“The main objective of launching this project is to overcome transport problems of the two cities. Currently private transport is the major mean of movement between the two cities, whereas 1,600 wagons and minibuses are plying on 16 routes within and between the two cities,” he said.
Project to curtail: The project, he said, would also help curtail traffic problems, as there was no organised bus service operating between Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
When contacted by Daily Times, a number of Islamabad residents supported the project and urged the CDA to launch it as soon as possible. “People are facing problems due to an un-organised transport system in the twin cities. The CDA, keeping in view the future needs of the transport system, must select a competent firm for the project,” they demanded. staff report
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is considering providing $6 million from Asian Development Fund and $150,000 from Technical Assistance Special Fund for Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System.
In update project, prepared by ADB Officer Ms Eunkyung Kwon, ADB Department Central and West Asia Department Social Sectors Division, CWRD, revealed that the TA loan provides a key intervention of the long-term partnership between the ADB and Pakistan for the development of Lahore's transport sector.
The TA loan supports a recruitment of a transaction advisor to help formulate, structure, and take to the market a public-private partnership (PPP) for the first priority line of a proposed rapid mass transit system (RMTS) in Lahore.
According to the report, a team of two PSP specialists will be recruited to work intermittently during the implementation of the TA loan. The team will work in close coordination with all interested parties of the Punjab government and the major development agencies active in the sector.
The team will assist the Punjab government to review and comment on due diligence report, financial model, regulatory arrangements, transaction structure, draft agreements, pre-qualification and bidding documents, and evaluation report; and facilitate in negotiating with the bidders.
The expected impact of the SSTA and the ensuing project will be the initiation of a long-term transport system investment program that will enable Lahore to make a greater contribution to national development, while improving in the quality of life for the city residents, including the poor. The SSTA outcome will be an investment project design and financing agreed upon by the government and the ADB.
ADB and CDGK to start bus rapid transit system
By Irfan Aligi
KARACHI: A new concept in urban transport systems is in the offing as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has allocated US$ 223 million for the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), to be launched in collaboration with the City District Government Karachi (CDGK). The BRTS would facilitate the transportation of at least 20,000 passengers on a persons-per-hour-per-direction basis.
ADB Karachi Mega City Sustainable Development Project (KMCSDP) Programme coordinator Roshan Ali Sheikh told Daily Times that the BRTS is a huge project that aims to provide people transport services of the same quality that is available in Western countries. The project encompasses the construction of 11 corridors, which will be built in the four tranches of the mega city project.
Under Tranche-1, the ADB has chosen three corridors, which are to be completed in three steps, preliminary design, detailed design and the implementation programme. The preliminary design is expected to begin within a month. The entire three-corridor project is slated to be completed within a record period of time of 24 months but if things go smoothly, this may be achieved within 18 months.
The BRTS will resemble a network of railway stations because instead of bus stops, there will be station-like compounds. Like railway tracks, no other transport will be allowed to ply on the track of buses under the BRTS.
The three corridors under Tranche-1 (which will be undertaken from 2008 to 2010) are Transit Route 1 from Surjani Town to the Quaid’s mausoleum (20 km, with potential for another 12 km to be added under a study being conducted currently), Route 2 from the Quaid’s mausoleum to Karachi University via Old Sabzi Mandi (14 km) and Route 3 in Orangi Town Extension (4 km). The corridors under Tranche-2 are Route 4 from Nagan Chowrangi to Landhi (21.5 km), Routes 5 and 6 in Rashidabad Extension and UP More Extension (2.7 km). Under Tranche-3 are Route 7 from Gulistan-e-Jauhar to University Road (4.7 km), Route 8 from KDA to Metropole via Shahra-e-Faisal (10.4 km), Route 9 from Shahrah-e-Quaideen (2.3 km), Route 10 from Korangi to Shahrah-e-Faisal (18 km) and Route 11 in Defense Housing Authority (DHA) (4.8 km).
The CDGK Mass Transit Cell director, General Malik Zaheer, told Daily Times that the BRTS is a CDGK project that came into being after the Pakistan government planning commission conducted a 3-month study on the possibilities of environment-friendly public transport systems for Karachi. The study yielded a solution based on 2 aspects: firstly, the use of CNG buses, which the government of Pakistan has opted to work on and secondly the design and development of the BRTS, which the ADB has picked to fund.
The buses plying under the BRTS will be environmentally friendly dedicated-CNG buses with a capacity of 160 persons. Special CNG stations with high filling pressure are required at the terminals so that every bus can get its tank filled within 2 minutes. City nazim Mustafa Kamal fully backs this project and is devoted to addressing the problems of the common man, said Zaheer.
Tranche-1 of the mega city project includes two more phases, which will also be funded by the ADB. These are the first phase of an Urban Traffic Control System (UTCS) and a key link road to the National Highway. The budget for all three phases of Tranche-1 is US $223 million.
It is to be noted here that the ADB will also be funding the remaining three tranches. Under Tranche-2 (slated for implementation from 2009-2012), US $132 million have been allocated for Routes 4 to 6 of the BRTS, US $27 million allocated to phase 2 of the UTCS and US $40 million for a link road to the Malir Expressway. A sum of US $199 million has been earmarked for Tranche-2. Tranche-3 has been allocated US $53 million, while Tranche-4 has been allocated US $185 million, of which US $165 million have been allocated for Routes 7 to 11 and US $20 million to a key link road. Hence, the ADB has allocated a total of US $660 million for these mega projects of the city in collaboration with the CDGK.
The sixth meeting of the steering committee for KMCSDP was held under Sindh Caretaker Finance Minister Deewan Yousuf Farooque on Sunday.
According to a hand out issued here on Sunday, the minister urged the officers concerned to speed up the process of ongoing development projects in city. KMCSDP Programme Coordinator Roshan Ali Sheikh explained the importance of the project and offered some suggestions for the improvement of water and sewerage systems in the city.
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Asim, Thanks for all the news that you have posted. These days, I don't have much time on my hands to post anything so I was wondering if you'd like to become a co-author of this blog. Deal or no Deal?
Hi Shoaib deal is deal and when there is a deal we see Geo Musharraf. So agreed friend.
Hi Shoaib deal is deal and when there is a deal we say Geo Musharraf. So agreed friend. But you need to tell me the tips of how to upload the latest on this blog
Asim, what's your email id? I'll send you an invitation to join the blog.
Posting to the blog is very easy. I'll help you to post,edit etc also.
mine email is kaleemasim@gmail.com cheers
Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has recommended 12 projects costing Rs 36.8 billion for Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) consideration and approved 21 schemes worth Rs 6 billion. The CDWP met here on Saturday with deputy chairman Planning Commission (PC) Dr Akram Sheikh in the chair.
This was the sixth meeting of the CDWP during the current fiscal. In the earlier five meeting, 185 projects costing Rs 523 billion were either approved for recommended to Ecnec approval. Briefing media after the meeting, PC Asif Sheikh said that total foreign assistance has been estimated at Rs 11.7 billion.
He said that projects costing Rs 20.9 billion would be fully financed by the federal government. Two projects costing Rs 15.6 billion will be financed from Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) Rs 35 billion budget for the current financial year.
Ten projects costing Rs 4 billion have been approved for the whole country. The CDWP approved three schemes worth Rs 1.1 billion for Punjab, 11 projects costing Rs 18.9 billion for Sindh, two project costing Rs 1.4 billion for NWFP, three schemes costing Rs 1.2 billion for Balochistan, two projects worth Rs 15.5 billion for AJK and the same number of schemes valuing 0.7 billion for Northern Areas, said Asif Sheikh flanked by Dr Asad Ali Shah, member infrastructure PC.
Of the three projects in Punjab, one project namely "Technical Assistance loan for Lahore rapid mass transit system, costing Rs 0.5 billion will be fully financed by the government of Punjab. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide technical assistance.
Dr Asad said that Lahore rapid mass transit was huge project and its total cost would be around 2.4 billion US dollars. The Punjab government will provide $1.4 billion for
check your mail Asim
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