MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM- LONG TERM SOLUTION TO TRAFFIC PROBLEMS.

Karachi Apr 22: Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the long term solution to traffic problems in Karachi lies in the Mass Transit System without which the city would have worst condition in terms of traffic after 8 to 10 years.

He expressed these views while addressing a meeting at his office on Wednesday to review the pace of work on development projects currently going on in the city and also to discuss future strategies for development activities.

Nazim Karachi on this occasion noted that the system of signal free corridors inducted recently in Karachi could only run the city for a maximum of 10 years after which it would need a mass transit system like other mega cities of the world.

He said that three years ago Karachi was facing much trouble due to regular traffic jam on nearly all main and subsidiary arteries. Haq Parast City Government introduced a new concept of signal free corridors to solve this problem in least time. These corridors were constructed rapidly and they helped in the resolution of traffic problems up to a large extent but the same is not enough to correct the traffic system of a mega city like Karachi.

Nazim Karachi said that the only solution to traffic problems in Karachi lies in the Mass Transit System on which we will have to work from today.

Reviewing ongoing projects he said that the journey of development must continue as the city is facing regular increase in the population and any halt in this development process will create more problems for Karachi and ultimately for the whole country.
Regarding water and sewerage projects, he said that city government had carried out water and sewerage works in all areas of city especially in all 4 industrial zones to provide better infrastructure to residents and factory owners.

Nazim Karachi said that our endeavors had been appreciated on international level too. He further said that like other mega cities of the world, Karachi also did not have any nearby river due to which it had been facing shortage of water. City Government has made many projects to solve this problem including the installation of desalination plants while it had also got the approval for a Rs.8 billion worth sewage treatment plant in Karachi.

He said that in order to complete development projects in city we recovered billions of rupees from the defaulters and used this amount on the rapid completion of development projects. He however, directed the officers of Revenue Department to take further measures for improvement in the recovery condition.

Nazim Karachi said that we did not imposed infrastructure tax in the very first year of our tenure in city government but worked for three years and laid the basic infrastructure for citizens after which we went to citizens and said to them that these projects belongs to them and therefore they should own them and support city government in the maintenance of these projects.

President Okays Various Mega Projects for Karachi

Certainly a big step towards Karachi's development and people benefit .................. but this is to see how long it takes to see these being implemented....... or the most important what shall be the security for these projects during times of Chaos when our lovely people start burning their own things as they are not able to control their emotions................ Strange

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari, on Monday, approved different mega projects for Karachi during a high-level meeting held at the Bilawal House.At least five of them were related to transport and communication systems, which include launching of the Karachi Mass Transit Programme, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Transit CNG Bus Project and Bus Rapid Transit System, as well as the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), completion of the Lyari Expressway and improvement of the Karachi Hyderabad Motorway.

The participants of the meeting included Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Federal Communication Minister Dr Arbab Alamgir, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Sardar Asif Ahmed Ali, Secretary General to the President Salman Farooqui, provincial ministers Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Agha Siraj Durrani, Mir Nadir Magsi and Shazia Marri besides federal and provincial officials.

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Transit CNG Bus Project

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said that the president has approved the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Transit CNG Bus Project for Karachi. It would be a public transport scheme, under which, 500 environmentally friendly CNG buses will be introduced. Only women would have the right to ownership besides 50 percent of the seats would be reserved for women passengers. According to her, the city nazim would launch the scheme and would oversee its implementation. She said that the federal government would provide an interest subsidy of Rs 700,000 on each bus. The number of buses in Karachi under the project would be increased to 4,000 by 2012, she added.

Karachi Mass Transit

About the Karachi Mass Transit, she said that the federal government would provide sovereign guarantee for the Karachi Mass Transit, which will be built on a Build-Own-Operate basis. International competitive bids will be invited soon and the scheme will be launched soon, she said.Regarding the KCR, the minister said that it is being revived at a cost of $ 1.6 billion with international assistance. According to her, the president wants the scheme to be implemented as soon as possible.

Karachi Circuar Way

The president also directed that a resettlement plan be prepared for the rehabilitation of the people settled in the way of the KCR. About the Lyari Expressway, Marri said that the president has approved the financing of the project. The project would be launched immediately and the planning commission is already working on the funds. She told the media persons that the president wants the governor and the chief minister to undertake vertical development for settlement of those who have been displaced due to the project.

Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS),

Talking about the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), the minister said that the city nazim is making efforts for its launch as soon as possible. According to the plan, three corridors would initially be developed in the city. These include Nagan Chowrangi to Cantonment Station, Safura Goth to Numiash Chowrangi and Orangi to Board Office Chowrangi.

About development of the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway, she said that the president has directed that the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway be constructed as a modern motorway in conformity with international standards. According to her, the Karachi Sewerage Scheme was also approved at the meeting. Marri said that it was also decided that work on the Larkana–Khairpur Bridge would be accelerated.

Besides, she added, the meeting reviewed the road networks in Sindh and directed NHA for completion of the Sukkur-Shikarpur –Jacobabad Expressway and Ratodero-Sewhan additional carriageway on a priority basis. The minister said that the president also directed that work should be expedited on Thar Coal project and other infrastructure development projects. About realignment of the RBOD-III, the president directed that consultants be assigned with the task of the proposed change of alignment.

The president reviewed progress on the Hyderabad–Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway as well, while also stressing upon improvement of the canal system and lining of distributaries and minors to ensure water conservation, she added

Strengthening ties with China: IDB Provides $39m Loan to PR for 530 New Wagons

Indeed a good step ....... China is our wonderful friend.......and we are always thankful for their support and economic help.

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ISLAMABAD: With the financial collaboration of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) worth $39.07 million, a signing ceremony for the procurement and manufacturing of 530 newly designed high capacity bogie wagons, including Brake vans, was held between the Ministry of Railways and Chinese Firm Dongfang Electric Corporation on Saturday.

Secretary and Chairman Railways, Samiul Haq Khilji and Vice President of Dongfang Electric Corporation Hu Weidong signed the papers.Earlier, Federal Minister for Railways, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour read out the details of the agreement and expressed hope that in result of the said agreement, Pakistan Railways would get a chance to strengthen and boost its freight system.

It would also be beneficial in terms of revenue generation and availability of employment opportunities at domestic level. It may be recalled that IDB is financing this project by providing loan by way of instalment sale. The instalment sale financing is for a period of 12 years after three-year gestation and mark up of 5.1 percent per annum.

The country representative of IDB M Akhtar Bhatti was also present during the ceremony.Khilji, while elaborating about the details of the agreement, said that these 530 high capacity wagons would be brought in completely knock down condition at a cost of $37.0 million in Pakistan Railways Workshops, Mughalpura. Here it would be finally assembled and manufactured locally.

He said that it would help in upgrading and strengthening the freight system of Pakistan Railways

RTA to Launch 500 Buses

I think this news is about the same Lahore Transport Company but no mentioning of its name....................................................................................................

LAHORE: The Punjab government and the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) will launch 500 buses on different routes across the city by the next month. The buses are being launched to facilitate thousands of commuters travelling through different parts of the city.

The increase in buses will help cope with rush on bus stops and roads (increased public transport). RTA Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal said the buses would be on the roads by next month. He said the government had engaged seven new contractors to initiate the service, adding that the buses would be launched on 21 different routes (most of them vacant).

He said all buses would be on the road by June. He said the government would start the new project with the deployment of 40 buses on a new route from Green Town to Badami Bagh.

Japan Agrees to Provide Aid for KCR, Two Other Projects

ISLAMABAD (April 15 2009): Japan has agreed to provide assistance for three projects, including Karachi Circular Railway project (KCR), sixth secondary transmission and grids project of Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) and New Khanki Barrage. Japan may make formal announcement in the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) meeting scheduled in Tokyo on April 17.

The consultant Scott Wilson Railways, UK, appointed by Pakistan Railways revalidated the feasibility study report on revival of KCR. The draft report of the consultant advised to conduct detailed feasibility study of the project. The Jica has already undertaken the supplementary studies, including demand traffic forecast model and environment impact assessment (EIA) studies.The loan will be STEP loan repayable in 40 years, including 10 years grace period.

The length of revival of KCR project is 49.1 kilometres and the cost is 872.316 million dollars. Under the STEP loan, Pakistan would ensure import of 70 percent material for the project and 30 percent locally produced material to be used to complete the project, sources said.

Lahore Mass Transit Rail Project Revival Amid Controversies

I still cannot believe this news till the ground breaking ceremony of this project is done..... and I think this was the news before the Shahbaz Sharif regain the office of CM

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AFTER remaining dormant for years, the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit Rail Project (LRMT) is finally being revived despite all controversies.The Asian Development Bank and the Steering Committee for the LRMT have agreed to employ a transactional adviser to set the project wheels rolling as the June deadline for the cooperation nears.

In a meeting on Friday, the transactional adviser, which most probably will be a marketing/consultancy firm, will market the project in the international arena to attract investors on the Build Own Transfer (BOT) basis, Planning and Development Chairman Sohail Ahmed told The News.

In 1993, the World Bank funded ‘Lahore Traffic and Transport Studies’ proposed an underground railway system to ease traffic problems. The Musharraf-led government also worked on such a project in 2000 and a memorandum of understanding was signed but the project was dropped.

The feasibility studies of the project were alleged to have caused embezzlement of funds creating controversies that lead to more delay. The government had already spent close to Rs 1 billion on feasibility studies of the project and the estimated cost had grown form $2 billion in 2007 to $2.5 billion in 2009 for the first phase. A Hong Kong based company called MVA Asia Consultancy was hired by the Punjab government as consultants to prepare the project feasibility, which proposed four rail lines in the City to ease traffic congestion.

The LRMT is estimated to serve around 350,000 people daily and the project would cover 27 square kilometres.Social circles have expressed their reservation on disturbance caused by blockades by the project in a city already clogged with traffic. The noise caused by a train running through the metropolis has also came under discussion.

People have expressed concern over noise level around the elevated portions of the track if sound barriers are not constructed. Already more than normal decibels of noise is generated around Pakistan Railway’s elevated track which runs from Lahore Station to Badami Bagh. Controversies, however, do not end here. The design and route of the LRMT has changed over time. Authorities state that changes have been incorporated to optimise the utility of the project whereas these changes had been seen by others an outcome of politicians’ efforts to favour their friends.The project according to the feasibility studies was divided into two phases. In Phase-I, two tracks are to be constructed. One will be a North-South route called the Green Line and other will be an East-West route called the Orange Line.

The Green Line would extend from Shahdara to Hamza Town via Ravi Road, Lower Mall, The Mall, Fatima Jinnah Road, Qartaba Chowk and Ferozpur Road. The Green Line would extend from Shahdara to Hamza Town via Ravi Road, Lower Mall, The Mall, Fatima Jinnah Road, Qartaba Chowk and Ferozepur Road areas.

The Orange Line would extend from Pakistan Mint to Sabzazar via Shah Nur, Awan Town, Hanjarwal, Thokar Niaz Beg, Canal View, Wahdat Road, Ali Town, Salahuddin Road, Bund Road, Islam Park, Dera Gujjran Depot, Mahmood Booti, Salamatpura, Samnabad, Gulshan Ravi, Chauburji, Lake Road, Lakshmi Chowk, Railway Station, Sultanpura, UET, Baghbanpura and Shalimar Garden areas.

The government is focusing on the Green Line as a stand-alone project so that once built its expected success can attract investment and expertise for the remaining part of the project.

Asian Development Bank experts and independent observers such as Dr E Sreedharan, who is the managing director of the successful Delhi Metro Rail project, have declared the Green Line Project a viable one after studying project details.

Thales Signs Saudi Rail Contract

French defence firm Thales and construction giant Saudi Binladin Group are to sign a $533m contract to build Saudi Arabia's North-South Railway.

The two companies will build signalling and security systems for the main 1,800km section of the $2.8bn railway.

The railway will link bauxite and phosphorus mines in the north with planned Gulf coast processing and export facilities at Ras al-Zour.

Another 600km section, which includes a passenger line, will be awarded later.
That line will link Riyadh with al-Zubairah in the north.

The North-South Railway scheme is one of three multi-billion dollar rail projects the government is developing.

Government and company officials said the contracts would be signed later on Tuesday.

MVA Asia & Mubarak Center Development Lahore

MVA Asia also took the Mubarak Center case study for traffic mangament in this mega commercial center as explained in the following document....

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$600 million BRTS Projects Fate Hangs in Balance

What else we Pakistanis expect, projects, their feasibilities and than nothing on ground and the major reasons personal interests and political settlements. How long the people of Pakistan shall be deprived of such projects of extreme importance........ How long ...... When our leaders starts thinking of us not of their families and themselves.... When they start thinking that doing something in Paksitan is more worth them for them than doing for themselves........

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KARACHI (March 16 2009): : The $600 million Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project of City District Government Karachi (CDGK) is in doldrums due to a lingering dispute between the provincial and city governments on the domain of the important infrastructure development project.

According to CDGK sources the city government was to launch the project at least four years back in 2006 in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB), which was to add $450 million to the $150 million funds allocated locally.But, they said, Sindh Government had objected the supervision of the project by city government and wanted to get the project under the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) despite the fact that Karachi Mass Transit Cell (KMTC) of CDGK had completed feasibility study of the project.

They said the programme fate was hanging in balance since ADB had decided to change its decision of investing on such a project after the provincial government decided to take the programme into its hand and it remained as a disputed project.The recent visit of Mass Transit Cell of CDGKs officials to Islamabad to further motivate the high ups in the government also failed to produce desired results, as the government did not show any interest to ponder over the issue.The unnecessary interruption of Sindh Government as it has did not carry out study of the project, has stopped the project at such a time when every thing was to complete within months, they added.

They said, "the most unfortunate thing is the lack of consensus, between the two governments, which led the ADB to withdraw its investment on such a project of public importance." ADB Karachi Mega City Sustainable Development Project (KMCSDP) Program, the BRTS, was major 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 phases.It is to mention here that in July 2008,on the request of Government of Pakistan, ADB had agreed for funding to the project of urban transport.

The urban transport programme cost was $400-450 million including the sub-projects of Development of BRT System for the city, modernisation, linkage of Traffic Signal & Traffic Management System, light rail transit (LRT) preparatory studySubsequently ADB had fielded a consultation mission to Pakistan from 10-14th November 2008 to finalise the re-packaged programme "Sindh Urban Mass Transit Development Program, (SUMTDP) Phase-I".

Under the restructured package, the programme included urban transport studies for other cities such as Hyderabad and Sukkur to facilitate development of BRT System in those cities

'Development on Mass Transit System in Islamabad within Six Months'

ISLAMABAD (April 05 2009): Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Fazeel Asghar on Saturday said that Cabinet Division and Capital Development Authority (CDA) are working to introduce a mass transit system and significant progress is expected in this regard within six months.

He stated this while inaugurating new route (No 140) being started for providing best transport facilities to the citizens of Islamabad. A private company with the name of Islamabad urban transport system has started plying luxury buses also on this route which will start from Bari Imam to G-15 Golra mor.Addressing the opening ceremony of new route at national university of science and technology Nust, Chief Commissioner said that Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration is reviewing all the routes in Islamabad in order to provide maximum transport facilities to the citizens.

He also appreciated the efforts of ICTA for launching new modern and comfortable bus service on the new route. He said that citizens of twin cities will greatly benefit from the transport system which is being re-vamped and will address the transport problems in the city in most effective manner.Earlier, Director General Administration of Nust University Brigadier Arif Siddiqui (Retd) in his address appreciated the efforts of ICT administration for solving the transport problems of the citizens and acknowledged the launching of new bus service on this new route.

Shahbaz Sharif and LRMTS

Indeed its a great news for Lahore that Shahbaz Sharif is back but it is to see that is it really be good for the LRMTS project.

Lets see