What Could be more Tragic than this. Indeed ironic .................
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KARACHI (January 07 2009): The much publicised $600 million Karachi Mass Transit Project (KMTP) has finally been wrapped up. Reason: bickering over the control of the project between the Sindh provincial government and City District Government Karachi (CDGK).
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) which had undertaken to finance the project has cancelled the agreement it had earlier entered into with CDGK.Sources in the Sindh Planning and Development department told Business Recorder on Tuesday that earlier ADB had approved US $1.1billion for the project. But later it had been cut by US $350 million and revised it by US $600 million, owing to the official indifferences.
The hostile relationship amongst both governments has thwarted all efforts made for the project, they said. They further added the ADB officials had expressed grave concern over the issue during several meetings with the Sindh government, CDGK and other relevant officials and had also stopped process of funds.
Therefore, a team, comprising Nazar Hussain Mehar, Additional Chief Secretary, P&D department, Ghulam Ali Pasha, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance department, Malik Islam, Project Director, KMTP and other officials had visited ADB head office, Manila to convince ADB officials to restore all activity related to the project.
However, ADB is of the view that if the fund was released for the project, it would be pointless because the issue of controlling the project is still not decided, they added. To a question, they said the high-ups posted in Finance and P&D departments were reluctant to give complete control to the CDGK, saying the Sindh government should deal the project.Therefore, the notification to establish Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) was issued by the authority concerned, which later was withdrawn after strong reaction by the CDGK.
They further said the City Nazim Mustafa Kamal called President Asif Ali Zardari and expressed his concern over the establishment of the SMTA.He has also requested the president to intervene for resolving the matter, sources maintained. They said that ADB would reallocate these funds for the project of any other country and added that if both governments did not quarrel for taking control of the KMTP, ADB would not stop funds for the project.
They termed it as a huge loss for the country especially for the Karachiities, who are suffering due to inadequate public transport. Furthermore, they said that another reason for its annulment was that the government had not reviewed all the practical options of the project and had failed to convince ADB officials about the significance of the project for the commuters.
3 comments:
Very sad about Karachi. The project never really got off the ground. The administrators of Karachi need to realize just how important a public transport infrastructure is to the future of the city.
Lahore is experimenting with a new transport initiative, the Lahore Transport Company. This entity will be created by an amendment in the Motor Vehicles Ordinance and will monopolize all the routes in the city. Private bus operators will be invited to become members of the company, and this membership will entail a host of capacity building and trainings measures.
Also, all the buses will have the same logo and color.
At the moment, I'm helping some friends out with ideas for i) a logo for the Lahore Transport Company, ii) a slogan; and iii) a color scheme for buses.
Please contact me at ralam@nexlinx.net.pk if you have any ideas you would like to share.
Example slogan: Managing Mobility, Making Mobility etc.
Example names: TransLahore, Metro Express, Lahore Xpress etc.
Dear Rafay! Indeed for me any such project going either in Karachi or in Lahore, is a matter of happiness and relief as its a sign of something good going to happen for a common man, nevertheless, the fears of its cancellation or abondoning are always in mind. And its the fate of all such project in Pakistan. Take the example of Lahore Mass Transit System,the work on it was supposed to be started by Sep 2007 but till yet no news.
This wonderful project of Karachi Mass Transit System is lost due to the difference between the two ruling parties there.
But I am amazed to hear about this "Lahore Transport Company". Are you working on it. I hope this become the reality....
Nice Rafay! I read your online column on The News. Indeed you are doing a big effort as your contributions towards this neglected sector of our country. What is your view about LRMTS. Is it still going to be implemented or just over.
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