PR Set to Revive Karachi Circular Railway

ISLAMABAD (April 30 2010): The Ministry of Railways is all set to revive Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) shortly, as the Japanese government has agreed to provide Rs 128.6 billion loan to the Ministry for initiating work on the project. "It is expected that loan agreement will be signed between the two governments in mid 2010. It will be opened for public by 2014", said Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour Federal Minister for Railways.

While briefing the media about the KCR project, Bilour said that Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) would arrange 93.5 percent funding of project costing $1558.8 million through soft loan at a markup of 0.2 percent payable in 40 years including 10 years grace period remaining expenditure of 6.5 percent would be borne by the stake holders of KUTC.

"Due to lack of investment in infrastructure, rolling stock etc, the operational efficiency was marginalized, increasing running time, lesser number of trains resulting in reduction of passengers and eventually KCR was closed for passenger traffic in December 1999", federal minister said, adding that work on stage I and II of the project would be commenced, simultaneously and would be completed within three-year time by introducing two eight-hour shifts.

Bilour said to plan an effective public transportation system in the city of Karachi, numerous studies were arranged but due to various reasons, mainly lack of funds, no project could be implemented. Minister said the KCR would be revived in two phases, as Modern Commuter System for the citizens of Karachi and Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) will be provided by Ministry of Railways, government of Sindh and City District government Karachi as shareholders on the basis of their equity.

The minister said in October 2005 Japan External Trade Organisation carried out a feasibility study and recommended the revival of KCR, as a viable project for mitigating the commuters' problems. He said the donor agency namely JICA sponsored a final study named Special Assistance for Project Formation SAPROF for the project and the final report was received in April last year, with estimated cost of $1558.8 million (Rs 128.6 billion).

"As many as 290 trains per day will operate at 6 minutes headway in each direction with capacity of 1391 passengers per trains, 30602 passengers per hour and 0.69 million passengers per day", he said. He said the stations would be provided with computerised ticketing, automated ticket gates, vending machines and elevators, adding that the entire KCR will be provided with electric traction infrastructure and modern signalling and telecommunication.

He said the project would be implemented on private public partnership and International Consultant will be engaged for designing of the project. Consultant M/s. Louis Berger US with local Consultant Associates has carried out third party validation of SAPROF final report.

The minister said the Satellite Imagery of KCR route has been completed by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco). The KCR was constructed and opened for traffic in two phases in the year 1964 and 1970. It was originated from Drigh Road Station on main line and after crossing Shahrah-e-Faisal passes through populated areas of Gulshan-e-lqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, SITE, Baldia, Lyari, Kharadar and finally touches Karachi City Station.

Encroachment May Hamper KCR project

KARACHI (April 30 2010): While the government is yet to finalise the process of resettlement of the affected people of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) Project worth $1.58 billion, the number of encroachment along the KCR track is increasing which is likely to hamper the already delayed project.

The increasing number of encroachers on the government land is likely to cause another delay for the billions of rupees worth project, as there is no check on land grabbers, sources told Business Recorder.

They said, though the dispute between Pakistan Railways (PR) and Malir Development Authority (MDA) has amicably been resolved out side the court, for the rehabilitation of affected people of KCR Project at Juma Goth, the slow paced development work of the resettlement was providing a fascinating opportunity for land grabbers to encroach more public land.

Around 350 acre land belonging to PR, has been planned by Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) - the proponent of KCR project at Juma Goth adjacent to Shah Latif Township on National Highway, to shift the land grabbers who had encroached government land along KCR track, they added. They said government would spend at least Rs 4.45 billion on the infrastructure development at the location as per Rs 12.5 million per acre with cash compensation.

KUTC, which has completed different studies of the project, was needed to complete the rehabilitation process soon, as, beside the chances of more encroachments on the land of KCR, the cost of project that has already been revised, was likely to increase further if it was delayed, they added.

They said that soon after the approval of project from Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC), further encroachment had started on the land along KCR's route; hence giving the land grabbers a green signal for having alternate lands from the government.

According to a survey conducted by Urban Resource Centre in 2005, commercial plazas, multi-storied residential apartments, bungalows, institutional buildings, shopping centers, factories, warehouses and petrol pumps occupy 72 per cent of the area on either side of KCR tracks. The remaining 28 per cent of the area on either side of KCR tracks is occupied by low-income settlements and Katchi Abadis.

JICA to finance modern transport plan in Karachi

Karachi

Administrator Karachi Fazlur Rehman has said that the city government has initiated a study to make modern transport facilities available in Karachi by 2030 with the cooperation and financial support of Japan International Cooperation Agency. JICA will provide Rs370 million for the project. It has also formed a 24-member team of experts, of whom seven members have already started conducting study. The members of the study team called on Fazlur Rehman at his office in Civic Centre to discuss the study programme.

On the occasion, the administrator Karachi said that the city government will provide all possible help in the study and implementation of the Urban Transport Master Plan-2030 for Karachi. The administrator said that necessary measures would be taken regarding the requirements, problems and their solution under this study and it would make it easy for government to solve the transport problems of the city by providing better public transport facility to citizens. He said that Mass Transit Cell of city government has already provided Karachi Strategic Plan-2020 to JICA, however, it was further extending the plan up to 2030 by conducting the study.

The administrator was informed that local experts including Arif Hasan, Nauman Ahmed of NED University, Syed Shabbar Ali and Farhan Anwer of Shehri had been coordinating for KUTMP-2030, following which the amended plan has been handed over to JICA.

The project would give a comprehensive transport master plan to the city. JICA has allocated financial support of Rs356million while the Sindh government and CDGK have also contributed Rs14.7million for the study.

PR, MDA agree to end land disputes to facilitate KCR revival

Karachi

The Pakistan Railways (PR) and the Malir Development Authority (MDA) have decided, in principle, to end their legal wrangling over 357 acres of land in Shah Latif Township, and hence, remove one of the obstacles in the revival of the Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) project, The News has learnt.

This land will be handed over to the Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC), which in turn will allocate the land for the resettlement of those affected by the KCR revival project, sources told The News, explaining that decisions to this effect were made during a recent meeting of the KUTC board of directors, which was chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman.

Sources said that these measures are being taken on the insistence of the donor agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who have made it mandatory for the land to be transferred to the KUTC, and for necessary changes to be made in both the Board of Revenue’s (BoR) ‘record of rights’ as well as in PR’s documentation. “The project’s funding depends on these requirements being met,” sources said.

A participant of the meeting, while requesting anonymity, told The News that while all concerns of the PR and the MDA have been addressed, the only question now was that of implementation of the decisions. “There are a number of issues, but the most pressing are when the land will be handed over to the KUTC, and when will work commence on the KCR’s revival,” the official said.

Sources said that one of the topics in the agenda of the recent meeting was to revisit the fifth meeting of the KUTC board of directors, held on October 6, 2009, where it was decided that after an amicable settlement is reached at between the PR and the MDA, the subjudiced land of Suit No. 399 of 1983 will be provided to the KUTC for the resettlement of the project affected.

The arrangement between the PR and MDA was for the latter to vacate the suit land, thereby paving the way for the railways to establish its ownership over the land. Once this process is completed, not only would the PR transfer its ownership rights to the KUTC, the Board of Revenue (BoR) would also give a final seal of approval to the move.

It was decided at the time that PR’s attorney, Makhdoom Ali Khan, would draft a formal application to be filed in the Sindh High Court (SHC) to withdraw the suit, with the application bearing the signatures of the MDA director general and of the divisional superintendent of the PR. “This process is now nearing completion,” sources claimed, explaining that the MDA had made some amendments to the initial draft and has sent it back

Rapid Mass Transit System: Capital Starts Hiring of Consultants Afresh

This is the second time ............... I hope this would be implemented
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ISLAMABAD (April 24 2010): The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has initiated afresh hiring of consultant firms to conduct feasibility study of Mass Transit System for twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, following knock back by the earlier-hired firm excusing poor law and order situation.

The authority had earlier assigned the task to a Swedish firm M/s Rejlers and the firm was supposed to start feasibility study of the project within days but, it refused to do so, on the excuse of poor law and order situation. The CDA, too, awaited a positive response from the firm for about a year, but failing so, the CDA was compelled to re-initiate the project.

The civic body now has re-invited the expression of interest for consultancy proposals for a mass transit system for Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The authority has invited the firms having the experience of executing such projects locally or elsewhere in the world, solely or through a joint venture.

According to the CDA spokesman, the process of hiring the consultancy firm would be completed within three-month time as the April 30 has been set as deadline for expression of interest. The feasibility study would take another five to eight months and so far as the cost of the study is concerned, it would not exceed to previous one mounting to Rs 50 million.

The spokesman said once all the formalities are fulfilled, the project would take another two and half years to complete. "For Rawalpindi, it would be somewhat risky because there is hardly enough space for 'right of way' available to lay a 'surface rapid mass transit system', while in Islamabad we have plenty of space for laying a surface system," he said.

To a question, he said it is the firms to propose what would be the features of the mass transit system; however, he said it may comprise an efficient bus transport service, a mono-train for some feasible locations of the twin cities and other measures for smooth transport system.

Deutsche Bahn offers 1.54 billion pounds for Britain's Arriva

Deutsche Bahn's plan to acquire UK transport provider Arriva appears to be on track. The takeover - the most expensive in the German company's history - is aimed at strengthening its passenger business throughout Europe.

British train and bus operator Arriva has confirmed that German state rail company Deutsche Bahn is willing to pay 1.54 billion pounds (1.8 billion euros) in cash to buy its operations as advanced talks continue.

Media reports said that if Arriva's debt is taken into account, the total value of the offer is 2.7 billion euros. Reuters news agency quoted sources close to the deal who said the takeover would be financed entirely through the issuance of bonds, and could be approved by Deutsche Bahn's supervisory board as early as next week.

The acquisition, which would confirm Deutsche Bahn as Europe's largest rail transport operator, could also trigger a wave of consolidation in the rail sector. French rail company SNCF, which held talks with Arriva as well, is equally keen to expand its footprint throughout Europe.

Deutsche Bahn and Arriva have been in talks for several weeks. The German operator has made no secret of its interest in acquiring the UK company, which operates bus networks, rail franchises and other transportation services in 12 European countries.

Arriva is the only big British transport group to have ventured into Europe, where it has taken advantage of gradual market liberalization. Its European operations account for nearly half of its revenue.

Last month at the presentation of the group's financial results, Deutsche Bahn Chief Executive Officer Ruediger Grube said the company plans to run its high-speed long-distance trains through the Channel Tunnel and "further actively expand" its business activities beyond Germany's national borders.

Deutsche Bahn is keen to move beyond its home territory as Germany's domestic rail market opens up to competition. The UK is high on its list of target countries. The rail company has already made a number of acquisitions in Britain including Chiltern Railways, which offers service between Marylebone and Birmingham, and EWS, the freight operator. It also runs the Tyne & Wear Metro and holds a 50 percent stake in the London Overground rail network.

Pros and cons

Richard Talbot, an analyst with The Railway Consultancy in London, said a takeover of Arriva could benefit the UK rail market in several ways. "Deutsche Bahn would bring technology know-how and system management skills," he said. "The company would also be another powerful player competing in the franchise bidding process."

Commuters who use UK trains also see benefits. "Trains in the UK have a very poor reputation when it comes to service, punctuality and cost," said Chris Manning, a businessman who commutes daily by train to London and who is familiar with German service. "They need to face competition from continental train companies like Deutsche Bahn to improve quality. These operators are light years ahead."

But consultant Talbot also warned that consolidation could have its drawbacks. "Small can be beautiful, especially when it comes to regional operators that provide a good service cost-efficiently," he said. "Big isn't always necessarily better."

Indeed, some critics of Deutsche Bahn say the state-owned company, which is known for its bureaucracy, could be overextending its resources with its ambitious expansion plans.

LTC - 20% Upfront duty on New Buses

LAHORE, April 17: The Lahore Transport Company (LTC) says 20 per cent of the upfront subsidy will be given on the purchase of new buses while as many will be on operational one after ascertaining the number of passengers on every route.

“A plan of action has been evolved to provide affordable transport to the citizens of Lahore,” LTC Chairman Tasneem Noorani said while presiding over a meeting here on Saturday.

The chairman said buses were being effectively monitored on pilot project routes through a newly installed tracking system. He said the LTC would enter into an agreement with each transport company on various routes of Lahore, and the contract terms and conditions would be held binding on all transporters He said the LTC would ensure the provision of standardised transport facilities to passengers. He said the availability and regularity of buses at bus stops after specified intervals would be ensured. He said that equal opportunities would be provided to all credible transport companies to participate in purchasing new buses.

Mr Noorani said the LTC intended to provide better transport facilities to the people. The enforcement wing of the LTC would regulate the legally permitted transport vehicles and eliminate illegal public service vehicles plying on various routes, he said.

Local Fleet of 500 CNG Buses to hit Khi Roads Soon

Wait n wait n wait .................. ok waited for three years so lets see when this soon will come
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KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said on Wednesday that under a federal government programme a fleet of 500 CNG buses would soon hit the roads of Karachi.

Chairing a meeting held here at the CM House to review transport facilities for the citizens, he said that the federal government decided to introduce a CNG bus service in 10 major cities of the country on a public-private partnership basis.

The CNG bus service programme, he said, would begin from Karachi where a fleet of 500 buses would soon be brought on the roads. These 500 CNG buses would be part of a project aimed at bringing 4,000 CNG buses in the country, which was endorsed by the federal cabinet in its meeting on Aug 16, 2008.

Besides Karachi, the cities where CNG buses would be operated under the nomenclature of “Shaheed Benazir Bhutto CNG Bus Service” are Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Hyderabad, Gujranwala and Sukkur.

The director-general of the Karachi Mass Transit Cell, Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam, informed the meeting that the Planning Commission had allocated Rs5 billion for the project. He said the government had exempted CNG buses from a 15 per cent import duty. He said the total investment in the project would be Rs21 billion including a government subsidy of Rs2.5 billion.

The government has already received offers from seven companies to initiate the project with 226 buses which could be increased up to 294 buses.

LTC to run 300 Diesel Buses

They were suppose to be CNG as 50 already running .............. but ok please bring them on road and more needed .......
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THE Lahore Transport Company has implemented the first phase of the project for providing efficient and affordable public transport to the citizens of Lahore. During this phase, 300 diesel buses will be run in the city soon to provide immediate relief to the people of Lahore.

Tasneem Noorani, Chairman LTC, said this while presiding over a high level meeting held to execute the directions of Chief Minister Punjab in his office on Tuesday. Chief Executive Officer of LTC J. I. Kim, General Manager Operations Asad Rehman Gillani, General Manager Enforcement SSP Fawad-uddin-Qureshi and General Manager Finance Adnan Muddaser were also present. Chairman Tasneem Noorani has said the Lahore Transport Company is implementing the direction of the CM Punjab to run 2000 new buses preferably in the next two years. However, 300 diesel buses are being provided immediately. He said the incentive of upfront subsidy for the purchase of new buses would be given to the trustworthy parties. He also said the operational subsidy would also be provided while determining the number of passengers on each route.

Transparent and merit oriented procedure will be followed in selecting companies interested in public transport system. General Manager Operations and Planning Asad Rehman Gillani has said that equal opportunities will be provided to the transport companies in the purchase of buses.

Punjab Chief Minister Briefed about Mass Transit

Wow ........... Big news ......... Tables turned .......... CM has taken briefing on Lahore Mass Transit Project from Suleman Ghani ....... The guy who has done lot of work on this project before Shahbaz Sharif government

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LAHORE (April 11 2010): Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting held with regard to Mass Transit Project. Head of Special Cell of Lahore Rapid Mass Transit Project Salman Ghani briefed about the progress of the Project. The chief minister said that Mass Transit Project is an important project and all resources would be utilised for its early completion.

Secretary Transport, Secretary Planning and Development and other concerned officers also attended the meeting.

CM wants 200-300 diesel buses in City

Just orders, meetings ............. claims and same repeated statements of previous era of corruptions .................... CM please Lahorites really need something implemented not words
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CHIEF Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed the Lahore Transport Company to make a plan for plying 200 to 300 diesel buses on the road of the provincial metropolis next month, saying that the CNG buses should be inducted in the transport system in the second phase. He said subsidy should also be given on diesel buses to encourage investors.

Presiding over a meeting on Friday, the CM said public transport system was an indicator of the level of development of a country and no nation could progress without an efficient transport system. He said that keeping in view the importance of the transport system, the government was paying attention to the development of the sector and provision of modern transport facilities to the masses. He said that besides foreign investors, local investors and transport owners should also be encouraged.

Shahbaz said subsidy on diesel buses would encourage locally-manufactured diesel buses and local investors would be able to make the maximum investment in the sector. He said that in the first phase, up to 300 diesel buses should be brought on the roads immediately and most of them should be air-conditioned. He said an order should immediately be placed for the import of more CNG buses so that after diesel buses, the CNG buses could also be used for providing transport facilities to the citizens.

The chief minister directed the Transport secretary to submit recommendations for the provision of modern transport facilities in other major cities of the province on the pattern of Lahore.

Lahore Transport Company Chairman Tasneem Noorani gave a briefing to the meeting while MPA Mohsin Latif, the Transport secretary, Lahore Commissioner, DIG Traffic as well as senior officers concerned were present.

Delhi Metro - Way to go for Indian Commuters

Can ever be our leaders think of the plight of the Pakistani commuters specially in Mega cities like Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Islamabad to built this metro system like in New Delhi
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http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/08/delhi.metro.commuting/index.html

Buses without route permits to be seized

LAHORE, April 5: The Lahore Transport Company has announced that the buses plying without route permits will be impounded after April 15.

LTC Chairman Tasneem Noorani said an action plan had been devised for the provision of standardised and affordable transport to the public, and it would be implemented shortly.

He was presiding over a meeting here on Monday also attended by CFO J I Kim, GM Operations Asad Gillani, GM Enforcement SSP Fawaduddin Qureshi and GM Finance Adnan Mudassar.

Mr Noorani said in the new transport system the frequency of buses on urban routes would be ensured so that the commuters did not have to wait at stops.

He said that only buses in good condition would be al lowed to run on urban routes and the operators would have to obtain fitness certificates for their vehicles from motor vehicle examiner.

He said it would be ensured the buses should only stop at authorised points in the city. He said a large number of commuters were using buses on B9 route from Kahna to railway station under an LTC pilot project.

He said the formula regarding the provision of upfront and operational subsidy to the transporters would be announced within a couple of weeks.

SSP Fawaduddin Qureshi said the movement of buses from Kahna to Railway Station was being monitored through a modern tracking system. He said the provisions of Motor Vehicle Ordinance were also being executed effectively.

LTC floats 24 route permits

LAHORE, March 31: The Lahore Transport Company on Wednesday floated 24 urban route permits for private transport owners.

“New and old bus operators can get 24 vacant routes of the city after fulfilling the requisite conditions,” LTC Chairman Tasneem Noorani said at a meeting.

The meeting was informed that General Bus Stand to Maraka, Railway Station to Salamatpura, General Bus Stand to Allama Iqbal Airport, Railway Station to Qilla Sitar Shah, General Bus Stand to Green Town, Railway Station to Rana Town, Allama Iqbal Airport to Model Town Link Road, Railway Station to Judicial Colony, General Bus Stand to Kala Khatai, General Bus Stand to Model Town, Bhaati to Rana Town, General Bus Stand to Chungi Multan Road, Darogawala to Chungi Amar Sidhu, Railway Station to Muridke, Railway Station to Liaquatabad, Railway Station to Altaf Colony, Old Ravi Bridge to Darogawala, Shahdara Town to Shadman Market, Lesco (Defence) to Allama Iqbal Airport, General Bus Stand to Bhudana, Railway Station to Kamonke, General Bus Stand to Kasur and Railway Station to Sharqpur routes would be given to the private sector in a transparent manner.

The chairman said that urban routes were being planned to provide standardised and affordable transport facility to the public.

GM (Operations) Asad Rehman Gillani said that only those buses would be allowed to run on these routes that would meet the fitness criteria.

GM (Enforcement) Fawaduddin Qureshi gave a briefing to the meeting about LTC enforcement.