CNG Buses for Rawalpindi

Lets see will this become a reality ........... or just table talk and that's all
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RAWALPINDI: A meeting will be held on July 5 to discuss the implementation of the plan to introduce CNG buses for commuters.

The district administration is in the final stages of planning the project, which will provide public transport between Rawalpindi and Islamabad as well as Taxila, Wah Factory, Rawat, Adiala Road, Sihala, Karachi Company, Faisal Masjid and Secretariat.

The CNG bus project aims to provide better, cheaper and eco-friendly transport, especially for working women and female students.

The Punjab government will launch the bus service with the cooperation of the private sector. A subsidy of 15 per cent will be given to those private transports companies that will import Hino CNG buses and will also be granted a loan for seven years.

Furthermore, owners of the buses will get 20 per cent operational and five per cent capital subsidies. Private transporters have been invited to the meeting and will be issued permits within 24 hours for running their buses on choice routes.

Kazmi told The Express Tribune that the secretary transport had already approved the project and will chair the meeting for its implementation.

The launch of the new CNG buses is said to be environment-friendly and the step is aimed at improving transport services for the public.

The meeting was called by Captain (Retd) Muhammad Yusuf, secretary Punjab, and will be chaired by Secretary Transport Imdadullah Bosal. District Coordination Officer Asad Raza Kazmi, Secretary Regional Transport Authority, SP Traffic and other officials of the district administration will also attend.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2010.

Karachi to have 400 CNG Buses soon

KARACHI: Karachi is about to have four hundred CNG buses on its roads as part of the government's policy to promote environment friendly public transport system.

Federal Minister for Environment, Hameedullah Jan Afridi talking to journalists following a seminar on Clean Development Mechanism here on Monday said subsidy of Rs 700,000 is being offered to introduce clean and green transportation.

"A total of 800 CNG buses have been procured for the country and required funding is in process by State Bank of Pakistan," he told the journalists.

In reply to a question he said the government has not taken into confidence the transport bodies about its scheme to introduce CNG buses.

"I do not think they should have any objection as the field is open and they too can participate in the bidding," he said.

The minister was confident that masses will appreciate the public friendly initiative that would offer clean, cost effective and efficient transport facility.

To another question, he said scarcity of gas is fortunately not an issue in the southern parts of the country.

Hameedullah Jan Afridi said a fool proof mechanism is also being introduced under which every vehicle will be required a thorough inspection on annual basis.

Mass Transit System Direly Needed for Twin Cities

Not only for Twin Cities, Lahore & Karachi .................. Mass Transit System are needed for all the Big cities like Peshawar, Quetta, Hyderabad, etc .............. Government should think of working on providing modern and good + respectable transport facilities .................... as by just simply big roads, plight of the common man shall not be overcome.
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The commuters of Rawalpindi and Islamabad continue to face a long list of problems in the absence of a mass transit system.

Overcharging, improper loading and off-loading of passengers, reckless driving, misbehaviour by transporters, violation of the women’s compartment and mid-route breaks have become routine.

While urban planners and government officials across the globe try to explore the possibility of next-generation transportation systems that are both commuter friendly and ecologically responsible, the twin cities have not been successful in this regard.

Many schemes were introduced, but because of stiff resistance by unions and owners of vans in Rawalpindi, could not be turned into a reality.

Most vulnerable in the absence of a proper transportation system are government servants who regularly travel to their offices during peak hours. A lot of people wait for the vehicle to arrive and then chase it to avoid getting late.

Ali Hussain, a government employee, said traffic jams in the twin cities during busy hours are taking place more frequently. “Traffic flow is often disturbed as everyone rushes to secure their seat, resulting in discomfort of others,” he added.

Another resident of Rawalpindi, Aqeel said, “The most serious problem is the unscheduled natured of public transport. Drivers stop their vehicles at bus stops for long hours waiting for more passengers, while those already seated get angry over the delay.”

A working woman Nosheen said that there are only two seats reserved for the women. “Most of the time, the two reserved seats are booked by a man or policemen,” she said.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Syed Asad Raza Kazmi Secretary Regional Transport Authority (RTA) said, “There are only 3,000 public transport vehicles for 3 million people of the two cities. This is not enough to meet the needs of the people.”

Even the number of private taxis is more than the public transport vehicles, as over 4,060 taxis are registered in Rawalpindi district only.

According to Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) officials, the number of traffic instructors who manage the flow of traffic is 600 in Islamabad and 800 in Rawalpindi. SSP Traffic Dr Sultan Azam Temuri said that ITP was making efforts to facilitate commuters.”There has been some improvement, however it will require more time,” he said.

Iraqi City Najaf to Get Ultra-Modern Monorail System

If LRMTS started by next year that it will also be completed within three years ................. Can compare progress with this project .......
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NAJAF: The Iraqi shrine city of Najaf, whose mediaeval-style alleyways host millions of Shiite pilgrims every year, has signed a deal for a monorail to rival that of ultra-modern Dubai, a provincial official said on Sunday.

The city, which is home to the grand ayatollahs who wield huge influence among Iraq's Shiite majority community, will be the first in the country to get a rapid transit system, with proposals for a Baghdad metro still very much on the drawing board.

The monorail will ferry pilgrims between Najaf's most revered shrines, the Mausoleum of Imam Ali in the city centre and the Grand and Al-Sahla Mosques in Kufa, 10 kilometres (six miles) to the west, provincial investment committee member Anwar al-Habubi told a foreign news agency.

The system, which is due for completion within three years, will also provide links to the city's two main bus stations, he added.

In a later phase of the project, the provincial council plans to connect the network to the city's international airport, opened two years ago to serve the tens of thousands of Shiite pilgrims who travel from Iran, Lebanon, south Asia and elsewhere.

The monorail will run at an elevation of six metres (20 feet) above the city's streets, Habubi said. The network, much of which will be twin-track, will have a combined length of 37 kilometres (23 miles).

Canada-based international engineering consortium TransGlobim International Inc is to build the 248-million-dollar system, which is scheduled for completion within three years, Habubi added.

"Construction will start right away as the project already has its investment licence," he said.

Globim said on its website that the project entailed financing and operating the network over a 30-year concession period as well as the survey, design and construction work. "Guideway design will accommodate blast protection," the firm said on its website referring to the concrete track and supports which carry the monorail.

Protection against bomb blasts is an important consideration in a city where Shiite pilgrims have come under repeated attack by Sunni extremists, including militants from Al-Qaeda.

"All guideway components will be pre-cast and assembled on site," the company added. It said construction would take two years after completion of the survey and design work.

Service frequency on the network will vary in accordance with the rhythm of the pilgrimage traffic. In total, Najaf welcomes around 70 million faithful to its holy places every year but the numbers fluctuate widely from day to day.

"Currently, Najaf hosts more than 5,000 visitors per day Saturday to Wednesday peaking to 20,000 visitors per day on the weekend -- Thursday/Friday," the company said.

"On 20 major nights of the year, the city is host to over one million people per day.

"Initially (there will be) five to six minute headway between trains, moving to two to three minutes in heavy usage periods," the company said.

"Train capacity will be 400 to 420 people per train travelling 35 to 80 kilometres per hour (22 to 50 miles per hour) depending on station distance."

Habubi hailed the signing of the monorail deal.

"It is a big asset for Najaf -- it will provide an important service for pilgrims and ease the massive congestion problems," he said.

Currently the only other monorail system in the Middle East is in Dubai. The line, which opened last year, links the mainland to the man-made island of Palm Jumeirah -- a residential and leisure mega-project off the coast in the Gulf.

Rs 32.885 Billion Earmarked for New Roads in Punjab

Further news about LRMTS in this Punjab Government Road Sector Allocation called MTDF.
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LAHORE (June 27 2010): To deal with passengers and freight traffic demand for roads, the Punjab government has allocated Rs 32.885 billion, the amount shows an increase of over 15 percent in the provincial budget 2010-11. The passengers and freight traffic has increased to 4.5 percent and 10.5 percent respectively in the last couple of years in Punjab

The road sector allocations for ADP (2010-11) account for about 16 percent of the province's overall development outlay for the year 2010-11. According to the budget documents, the government has allocated Rs 30.435 billion for the year 2012-13 and Rs 26.004 billion for the year 2012-13 under the Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF).


The MTDF (2010-11) aims to improve existing road densities through rehabilitation/improvement and expansion of existing network. With transition of major part of the farm-to-market/district roads network to the district governments since devolution, the provincial road sector has been focusing to consolidate and maintain the existing inter-district roads while catering for rehabilitation of the rural-access roads under an umbrella programme. In addition, present development portfolio for the province entails major urban and inter- city road projects including Lahore Ring Road and Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System.

Plan to Convert Railways into Profitable Entity on Anvil

Seems like a joke ................. Government is interested in reviving Railways ........... Hopes and nothing else ................

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ISLAMABAD (June 27 2010): The government has decided to devise a comprehensive plan to convert Pakistan Railways into a profitable entity by privatising sale of tickets and checking system, Business Recorder has learnt. Sources in the Railway Ministry said that the government has decided to devise a plan, for the next three years, under which ticketing sale and its checking would be privatised.

Similarly, modern computerised system would be introduced to increase trains' speed. To enhance revenue, new freight trains and oil tankers will operate from Karachi to other parts of the country. Sources said that to curtail the increasing trend of travelling in trains without a booked ticket, ticketing department would be privatised.

According to the plan, some private company fulfilling the Railways criteria would issue tickets. In this regard another proposal is also under consideration according to which private company will provide the passengers their tickets at their homes.

According to the plan, passengers will book their tickets online, which will not only save time but will also provide relief to the passengers who are always complaining about Railways mismanagement, sources added. Most of the people avoid travelling in trains as they take longer time as compared to air travel.

After installation of modern computerised system, trains' speed will automatically increase and it is expected that it will not only attract more passengers to travel by train but will also increase revenue. The plan is likely to be implemented in the next three years, which will covert the Pakistan Railways, which has sustained financial bungling in its 60-year history, to a profitable institution, sources added.

CM Reviews Improvement of Ferozpur Road Project

Hopefully this improvement shall be for the future construction of Lahore Mass Transit Project ............. Lets see .............

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LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has stressed the need for coordinated efforts by the departments concerned for maintaining a high standard of the roads in the provincial metropolis and provision of better facilities to the citizens.



He was addressing a meeting held to review the measures taken for the improvement of Ferozepur Road here on Friday. Members Provincial Assembly Hafiz Mian Nauman, Mian Naseer Ahmad and Ramzan Siddique, Commissioner and District Coordination Officer Lahore, Directors General LDA and PHA, Managing Directors WASA and Solid Waste Management, DIG City Traffic Lahore and prominent journalist Iftikhar Ahmad were also present on the occasion.
He directed that an effective strategy should be evolved for monitoring efficiency of the government departments and the officials showing better performance should be encouraged while action should be taken against those who fail to perform satisfactorily.

He announced cash award of Rs5 lakh for government officials showing outstanding performance in the construction of Ferozpur Road.

He directed that parking plazas should be constructed on large pieces of land in the City and announced that a modern parking plaza would be constructed on four Kanal land at Icchra. He also directed to conduct a survey of petrol pumps in the provincial metropolis and submit him a report in this regard.

The chief minister said government is implementing a comprehensive strategy for providing better facilities to the citizens and measures are being taken for improving infrastructure throughout the province.

He said better facilities could become available to the citizens if government departments perform their responsibilities with commitment and dedication. He said the income generated through the sale of public properties under the privatization policy of the government would be spent on water supply and drainage schemes, improvement of infrastructure and provision of other facilities in the same districts.

He directed that besides improving Ferozepur Road, 15 more roads of provincial metropolis should be selected for improvement on the same pattern and a report should be submitted to him within ten days. He directed to adopt a uniform policy for constructing bus shelters on the roads. He said that comfortable seats, water coolers and other facilities should be provided in these bus shelters. He said that keeping in view the increasing traffic in the provincial metropolis, construction of parking plazas is the prime need.

Shahbaz Sharif meets Korean Rail Authority Team

Another step towards implementing the Mass Transit System in the City and its surroundings area ......... Thats Great but when all these shall be implemented .............. All eyes towards Lahore Mass Transit Project.
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Korean Rail Authority team met Shahbaz Sharif under the leadership of Korean Pakore Global Company Director Mr. Dong Il Kim in CM House. The team briefed about the present situation of Urban Transport System in the provincial capital along with other major cities of the province. CM said its the priority of the government to provide better transport facilities to the citizens.


Lot of Railway tracks which are being abandoned by Pakistan Railways can be utilized under this plan. He said that a Rail link connecting Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Wagha would be great but it should be linked with the local road transport for easy access to the commuters. He further said that there is indeed vast scope of cooperation between Korean firm and the Punjab Government.
Meanwhile, the Korean firm explained further about the plight of commuters in Lahore where the population of 9 million is forced to travel in only 700 buses where most of them are in dilapidated condition .

Late to Leave, Late to Arrive - Pakistan Railways

Seems like our organizations chiefs are deef and dumb ............. Its indeed sad to see such a wonderful mode of transportation collapsing day by day ......................

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Late arrival and departure of passenger trains at the Karachi Cantonment Railway Station along with poor facilities and mismanagement is causing immense problems to commuters with the result that people now blame the government and Pakistan Railways (PR) authorities for their sufferings.

For the past many weeks, most of the upcountry trains, including the Allama Iqbal Express, Pakistan Express, Tezgam and Shalimar Express, which are preferred by people travelling to Punjab, leave the platform well after the scheduled departure time.

On Wednesday, the Allama Iqbal Express left Cantt. Station at around 6:00 pm although its departure time is 2:30 pm. Same was the situation of other popular passenger trains as they too left the station after a delay of three to four hours while the passengers suffered in the sizzling summer heat.

Only a couple of trains like Karakoram Express and Karachi Express were being sent on time by the railway authorities as they have the ‘elite’ business class boogies and people spend thousands of rupees to get their tickets.

The passengers, who had seats reserved some two to three weeks back, cursed the government and railway authorities, including the Federal Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, for causing them inconvenience.

Talking to this scribe, the stranded passengers blamed Bilour and former minister Javed Ashraf Qazi and said, “They have left the Railway on the verge of collapse. PR officials are also conspiring to deprive the masses of the cheapest means of transportation.”

An elderly woman, who had reservation of Allama Iqbal Express for Sialkot said she her son had come to see her off but owing to the delay in train’s departure, he was standing by her for the past three hours and was late for work.

“There are no facilities for passengers at the railway stations. All the uncomfortable benches for passengers are occupied and many of us are sitting on the platform. I don’t know when the train will arrive and I would start the journey,” the lady complained.

Another family with children was also highly annoyed over the attitude of railway authorities. “For the past 20 years, we have hardly arrived on time at our destination thanks to PR. I’m going to my ancestral village near Lahore along with my kids. However, travelling by train is a misery from the start to the end,” Amin Ahmed, the head of the family added.

Another passenger, Rizwan Ali, who was returning from Lahore, told The News that he had come to Karachi a couple of days back through Karakoram Express in business class. “The train was due to arrive at Cantt Station at 10am but it took over 24 hours to arrive here and I reached Karachi at 4pm. My family members who had come to receive had to wait here endlessly for six hours to greet me,” he added.

Apart from delays in arrivals and departures, travel conditions in these trains are extremely filthy and cause immense inconvenience to commuters during their journeys spread over 20 to 24 hours.

“In business class, which is highly expensive traveling class introduced by the railway authorities, I have seen numerous cockroaches in the seats and washrooms, which shows the hygienic conditions of these trains” Abdullah, an upcountry resident said.

He said often water becomes scarce in the washrooms, fans don’t work and even air conditioners of trains do not work properly in this immensely hot weather, causing serious problems to passengers especially women and children.

DS Railways Aftab Memon could not be reached despite repeated visits to his office and calls to his cell-phone. However, other railway officials admitted that these problems existed.

“As far as delayed arrivals and departure of trains is concerned, former railway minister Javed Ashraf Qazi is to blame who purchased substandard Chinese locomotives, which are causing great trouble these days” a senior railway official said, requesting anonymity.

Apart from faulty and substandard locomotives, broken power generation plants, scarcity of boogies fit for travel, and lack of other facilities like small number of platforms and washing lines were some other issues behind the inconvenience to masses, he added.

The railway official said that railway tracks had not been fully rehabilitated since the riots after the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto while the signal system was another concern that was adding to the delays in trains’ arrivals and departures.

“Unfortunately, all these issues are in the knowledge of senior railway authorities including the federal minister, Chairman and GM Railways but they appear least concerned about problems to common people,” he added.

A railways’ labour leader Muqadar Zaman blamed the nexus of politicians and senior railway officers for the destruction of Pakistan Railways that led to extreme inconvenience to people and said unless these people mend their ways, no improvement was possible in Railways.

Zaman, who is senior vice president of Railway Labour Union (Railway Mehnutkash Union), said that officers were enjoying all privileges while lower-grade employees were being denied their basic rights and their condition was compelling them to adopt unethical practices.

“For instance, employees and their families are being forced to travel in economy class instead of lower AC class as this class is being abolished from most of the trains. Now employees are being compelled to travel in economy class whose condition is getting bad to worse with each passing day” he added.

He demanded the authorities to improve travel conditions for everybody including ordinary passengers by arranging timely departures and arrivals of the trains and provide them hassle-free journeys.

Indian Railways vs Pakistan Railways .... Former is indeed Far Ahead

LAHORE: While the federal government is pondering over the request of the loss-ridden Pakistan Railways to increase the fares of goods and passenger trains up to 15 per cent to help it meet its recent salary raise obligations and to neutralize the effects of surging oil prices, a peek into the 2010-11 budget of the profitable state-run Indian Railways shows that there is no increase in passenger fares and also for freight traffic.

In fact, the Indian Railways Minister has also announced reduction in service charges for e-tickets, besides slashing the freight charges for foodgrains and kerosene to help the common man.

New Delhi this year has out rightly rejected all proposals to increase the fares of Indian Railways, despite criticism from the bureaucracy and economic wizards that the ticket prices should be increased as the country had recorded steep inflation in 2009 due to soaring diesel costs primarily.

Comparing apple to apple, an intriguing study of the Indian Railways shows how this organization had managed to register a net profit of Indian Rs192.16 billion or Pakistani Rs345.88 billion between 2007 and 2010 without any hike in fares, freight rates or retrenchments during this 3-year period.

On the contrary, the Pakistan Railways continues to feature prominently among the white elephants burdening the exchequer, by incurring losses of nearly Rs52 billion during the same period.

While the Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour is on record having said on the National Assembly floor that the Pakistan Railways incurred Rs30 billion losses during the last two years or Rs3 million per hour, his ministry has reportedly suffered a loss of Rs18 billion during these last 8 months also, which makes the net loss swell to approximately Rs52 billion in less than three years.

Bilour had told the National Assembly that Pakistan Railways had faced loss of Rs15.03 billion during the fiscal year 2007-08 and Rs18.6 billion in fiscal 2008-09. It is important to note that while the government had dished out a subsidy of Rs7.30 billion to the Pakistan Railways in 2007-08, a financial support to the tune of Rs9.03 billion was provided to it in 2008-09, though this assistance has had little impact on the overall performance of this organization’s operations.

Not very long ago, the 157-year-old Indian Railways was on the brink of defaulting on its dividend payments as it was consistently operating at a loss, but then prudent management and strong will of the men at the helm of its affairs, helped it report handsome profits during the last three years.

Having recorded a cash surplus of $18 billion by 2008, the amazing turnaround of Indian Railways from ‘Bankruptcy to Billions’ in the last five years, thus provides ample food for thought to the Pakistani politicians and technocrats.

The outdated website of Pakistan Railways, last updated on October 8, 2009 reportedly, speaks volumes of the fact that the officials running this department, are least bothered to facilitate the literate commuters who intend to check the timings and fares for their desired destinations online.

On the other hand, the Indian Railways website was reported to be the top visited Indian travel site in April 2010 with 7.7 million visitors benefiting from the online ticketing services available through it.

The Indian Railways had launched its website in 2003, where apart from the e-tickets, passengers could also book e-tickets that are basically regular printed tickets, except that they are booked online and delivered by post.

Being one of the world’s largest commercial or utility employers, with more than 1.6 million employees, the Indian Railways operates about 9,000 passenger trains.

It also has one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting 20 million passengers and more than 2 million tonnes of freight daily through 0.2 million freight wagons, 50,000 coaches and 8,000 locomotives.

The Indian Railways covers 6,909 stations over a total route length of more than 63,273 kilometres.

As far as the Pakistan Railways is concerned, it carries an average of 178,000 people daily or 65 million passengers annually on a route length measuring 8,163 kilometres.

The route length of Pakistan Railways is less than 13 per cent of that of the Indian Railways, which gives a measure of how well the Indians have managed their huge government-controlled enterprise.

Pakistan Railways operates 228 mail, express and passenger trains daily. Currently languishing under a massive debt of over Rs56 billion, including Rs25 billion in foreign debt, the agony of Pakistan Railways and plight of its passengers thus continues, despite the fact that a report released in 2002-03 had explicitly mentioned that this state-controlled entity owned 167,690 acres of land with an estimated value of Rs246 billion at that time.

The history of Indian Railways may date back to 1853, but it is not very young in Pakistan’s case either. The idea of a rail network in this part of the then undivided India was first thought of in 1847, with the possibility of Karachi becoming a major seaport.

Sir Henry Edward Frere, who was appointed as the Commissioner of Sindh, sought permission from the then Governor General of India Lord James Andrew Dalhousie to begin a survey for a Karachi seaport and a survey for a railway line in 1858.

Initially, laying down of a Karachi to Kotri railway line was proposed and steamboat service on the Indus and Chenab rivers was recommended to connect Kotri to Multan, and from there another railway line was proposed to extend the route to Lahore.

On May 13, 1861, a 169 km long Karachi to Kotri railway line was hence opened for the public. By 1886, there were four railway companies operating in what would become Pakistan, 61 years down the road.

In 1947, after Pakistan became an independent state, 1,947 route miles (3,133 km) of North Western Railways were transferred to Pakistan from British India. One doesn’t expect Pakistan Railways to work wonders overnight, but lessons can be learnt from the recent success of Indian Railways at least, if the development of the $425 billion American freeway system with a 75,000-kilometre highway network seems a dream that may never come true for centuries with this level of governance and apathy of our rulers.

Fate of the CNG Bus Project in Karachi and Whole Country

Work on KCR to begin by year end: Qaim

I hope this would be the beginning year of this vital project .............. lets see
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KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shahhas said work on vital surface train-based urban public transport scheme, Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), will be initiated this year with an amount of 900 million dollars.

He was replying to a question in Sindh Assembly session here on Friday.

Chief Minister said that all hurdles in way of the KCR have been removed, adding the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has already approved the project and work on it would be initiated this year with the help of Japan. He said the project will be completed by 2013, adding Japan would provide a soft loan of 900 million dollars for the project.

Lahore Mass Transit Land acquisition will be Complete in 2010-11

I was wondering despite the recent hue n cry about this project, there was no news about it in the Punjab budget but finally hear it now
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LAHORE, June 16: Land acquisition along ‘green line’ corridor or the first phase of the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) project will be complete during the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Transaction preparation for procurement of works for implementation of the top-priority corridor will also be complete besides removal or relocation of utilities infrastructure by Lesco, Wasa, PTCL, SNGPL and NTC, according to the 2010-11 budget document.

The Punjab government intended to seek assistance from the Asian Development Bank to co-finance implementation of the LRMTS project, estimated to cost around $2.4 billion, including the systems and operation that would be deployed through outsourcing transaction advisory services to structure a successful private-public partnership through involvement of international investors and financial institutions.

Planning for the metro network started in the 1990s when the priority corridor for a light rail transit system was identified. Internationally reputed consultants were commissioned by the government in 2005 to undertake a feasibility study of a rapid mass transit system for Lahore. Spreading over 97 kilometres with 82 stations, a network of mass transit corridors comprising four lines was identified in December 2005 with Ferozepur Road as top priority corridor or `green line’. Detailed feasibility of the `green line’ was finalised in August 2006 that defined its main parameters.

With its 27-km length with a total of 22 stations – 12 underground and 10 elevated -it will traverse in the south from Hamza Town along Ferozepur Road to Fatima Jinnah Road, The Mall, Lower Mall, Ravi Road and crossing the Ravi end at its terminus in Shahdara. Its main depot will be near Shadab Colony in the south with a secondary stabling yard near Shahdara station. It will have five connections with other future metro lines – orange, blue, and purple -- at Kalma Chowk, Qurtaba intersection, central station near GPO on The Mall, Jinnah Hall and Data Darbar. The Ferozepur Road section of the `green line’ will be an elevated viaduct of 11.9 kms; made of two twin bored tunnels below the city centre, the middle section will be 11.6 kms long while the elevated viaduct of 3.5 kms length will be the northern section from Data Darbar to the terminal station at Shahdara.

Work on the reference design of the LRMTS was handed over to French company SYSTRA in June 2007, involving 30 per cent of detailed engineering design, system specifications and operations and maintenance requirements planning. The reference work, including finalisation of the design of key elements like viaducts, tunnel, elevated and underground stations and depots, besides system specifications and O&M requirements have almost been completed.

Based on initial environmental examination, the study has also delineated environmental monitoring and management plan.

Land acquisition and utilities’ relocation plans are under way for acquiring right of way as well as removal of utilities infrastructure.

$2bn Lahore Mass Transit System Govt has ‘Qualms About Uneven Development’

What is this now ............. When we re really getting excited to hear the latest news of Punjab government getting sincere about Lahore Mass Transit than comes this news............ What is this jealousy ........ its a project of National interest ............... its the matter of giving a relief to the commuters of this city ................ So many jobs will be created .............. As far as South Punjab is concerned ............. look at the world all around ................ such systems are always built in mega cities and yes the government should think of extending to other mega cities one by one as one finishes ............................. Even Karachi is going to have a similar project "Karachi Circular Railway" which is indeed more modern than this one .................... Come on no more excuses please .........
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LAHORE, June 10: The Punjab government appears to get cold feet about the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) reportedly on the grounds that the estimated $2 billion foreign investment aimed at modernising the city will create jealousy in other parts of the province.

“The government had reactivated the project and even created a cell for launching it. But when the Asian Development Bank is considering to advance $1 billion for it and there are hopes of foreign direct investment of another $1 billion, the government is having second thoughts about the project,” an official source informed Dawn on Thursday.

When asked for the reasons for the second thoughts, sources claimed that they could mainly be the feared jealousy of giving Lahore importance over other cities in the province especially those in South Punjab.

They said the project had been prepared by internationally reputed technical experts in the field, all agreeing on its viability. Studies were conducted to address various concerns over the project and all leading international experts had agreed that the project, if launched, would forever resolve the transportation problems of Lahore.

They said the studies had also justified launching of the project in Lahore because of its status as the central city in Punjab with regard to provision of services to the rest of the province.

They said 52 per cent of the province’s GDP was generated by the services sector mainly located in Lahore. All studies had shown that the project would make Lahore more efficient with regard to the extension of these services to other cities.

The sources said those engaged with the project had already started talking with the Asian Development Bank for the provision of $1 billion for launching its first phase, and the additional foreign direct investment of $1 billion could easily revive economy of the cash-starved province.

Another aspect of the huge project was the creation of countless job opportunities for the people in the province, besides giving them a decent and timesaving modern transport system.

If launched, the total project which would cover the entire city would bring an estimated $8 billion investment in the next 12 to 15 years. This would include an estimated $4 billion direct investment.

They said by the year 2025, the system would have a capacity of accommodating daily 730,000 passengers. The capacity per hour during peak hours would be 24,000 passengers per destination.

“Lahore is the capital of Punjab. Is it wise to rob it of the rare investment and job opportunities that could come with a modern transport system merely fearing opposition from other cities. One has to start things from one place and why it cannot be Lahore,” asked one of the sources.

Plight of Pakistani Commuters Continues

Karachi City transport projects hit bureaucratic roadblocks

How long ........... Nothing to say or left to say
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Many ambitious transport-related projects for Karachi have yet to see the light of day despite a long lapse of time. Even though a number of studies and surveys have been conducted and other initiatives taken by the authorities, there is little to show on the ground for these efforts.

According to a survey conducted by The News, a number of projects, including the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), and the 4,000-vehicle CNG bus project, are nowhere near getting off the ground and no one knows when the general public will be able to benefit from these projects, which require a huge investment.

The survey revealed that the BRTS project was, in fact, so badly handled by the Government of Sindh that the donor agency deferred funding for it. On the other hand, the much-delayed KCR project also seems to have been put on the backburner as the resettlement report on people to be affected by the project has still not been finalised. Meanwhile, citizens are still awaiting the arrival of the first fleet of 4,000 CNG buses, which were meant to be in service a long time ago.

It is not only these federal government and donor agency projects that are currently in the doldrums. The pilot project of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) for CNG buses has also run into snags and has not enjoyed the success expected of it.

The story of why none of these projects have got off the ground is a sorry tale of bureaucratic mismanagement, red tape-ism and sheer inefficiency.

The BRTS has seen many changes during the last few years which led to the deferment of the project on behalf of the donor agency. Initially, it was decided that the federal government and the Government of Sindh would act as executing agencies and the CDGK would play the role of implementing agency. Later, in October 2008, the Government of Sindh constituted the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) to execute this project.

However, the Asian Development Bank developed serious concerns about the execution and implementation of the programme through the SMTA and it pushed for implementation though the KMTC.

Finally, the donor agency decided to defer the project through a letter issued on December 11, 2008. The SMTA was subsequently been dissolved but the project had already been seriously jeopardized even before that. The project had envisaged three Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Lines, 44.5 kms in length, which would be constructed at a cost of US$259 million.

Meanwhile, the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), which is to be funded by Japan, is also still in the doldrums. Although the availability of funds is no issue, two pressing problems need to be resolved immediately for the project to go ahead. The resettlement of those affected by the KCR is a one of the prime issues serving as an obstacle to the launching of the project. It has been learnt that the Japanese government is very touchy over the resettlement issue and has been demanding that a comprehensive report should be submitted on the relocation of persons who would be affected by the project.

It has been learnt that another stumbling block is the re-lending of funds from the Japanese government to the Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) through the Economic Affairs division. The Japan government would provide a soft loan but a direct transfer of funds to the KUTC, which is the executing agency of the KCR project, would disturb its viability due to the imposition of a risk management rate. Meanwhile, those rendered homeless by the project would likely to be resettled in Shah Lateef Town.

It is also learnt that first fleet of around 500 CNG buses of the 4000 earmarked for Karachi has still not arrived in the city. The buses were expected to arrive in May this year. It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government had transferred Rs300 million to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on December 31 last year to facilitate the investors for the procurement of CNG buses.

Meanwhile, the CDGK had launched its own CNG bus which could serve as a ‘role model’ to the country for the provision of transport facilities to the general public on behalf of a city government. According to experts, the intention may have been good but the department concerned could not handle the project with the requisite skill. It is learnt that in terms of management, the project proved to be nothing less than a disaster. According to sources many of the buses that were part of the scheme when it was launched have developed one problem or another. The CDGK is now providing a huge amount as subsidy to keep these buses in operation.

Meanwhile, the people of Karachi continue to hope that someone will cut the red tape and provide them with the comfortable, convenient and affordable transport service they desperately need.

Decision about Speeding up of Work on LRMTS in Next Budget

THE Punjab Transport department has proposed over Rs 6 billion in the upcoming budget to breathe life into the long overdue Lahore Rapid Mass Transit Rail Project (LRMT).

The project had lost its course after being revived in March 2009 when the Asian Development Bank and the steering committee for the LRMT agreed to employ a transactional adviser to start the project. The transactional advisor was to be a marketing/consultancy firm, which would market the project at the international level to attract investors on the Build Own Transfer (BOT) basis. However, transactional advisor was never appointed.


The Asian Development Bank (ADB), from the very start, had pledged its support through $1 billion for the project of an estimated cost of around $2.5 billion. Talking to The News, Punjab Department of Transport Secretary Muhammad Yousuf said the Punjab government would need to invest around $400 million in the project to get it going.

The LRMT is estimated to serve around 350,000 people daily, covering 27 square kilometres. The government has not been able to make progress in this regard even after paying about Rs1 billion on its feasibility studies regarding the project, termed the only solution to traffic problems of the provincial metropolis..

According to the feasibility studies, two tracks are to be constructed, first North-South route, called the Green Line, and second East-West route called the Orange Line. The Green Line would cover Shahdara to Hamza Town via Ravi Road, Lower Mall, The Mall, Fatima Jinnah Road, Qartaba Chowk and Ferozepur Road. The Orange Line would cover Pakistan Mint to Sabzazar via Shahnur, 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-e-Ravi, Chauburji, Lake Road, Lakshmi Chowk, Railway Station, Sultanpura, UET, Baghbanpura and Shalimar Gardens.

The Transport secretary has claimed that the project has reached its final phase and the deadline set for the completion of the LRMT Green Line is three years.

The detailed design of the project is already underway and will be completed by the end of the year. The land acquisition for the Underground Railroad will start by January 2011.

The relocation of utilities has always been a contention among many circles ever since the project was conceptualised. The mesh of high power transmission lines, gas pipelines and telecom cable network buried not so systematically in the proposed route poses a great challenge. Work in this regard has been planned to commence from the first quarter of 2011.

Considering the power crisis in the country, the LRMT will have its own power production unit. The addition of the power production unit has pushed the total cost of the project even further.

The project has been surrounded by controversies right from the feasibility studies. Social circles have expressed their reservation about 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 come under discussion as citizens are worried about the noise level around the elevated portions of the track if sound barriers are not constructed. Already a lot of noise pollution is generated around Pakistan Railwayís elevated track which runs from Lahore Station to Badami Bagh.

Considering the challenges of attracting an investor, an experienced and capable operator, transparency to curtail embezzlements of funds and to address the environmental concerns of citizens, the project completion is an uphill task. The LRMT has seen periodic revivals and delays, however, it still remains to be seen if this one too is just another such episode.

Rs 6b proposed for Rapid Mass Transit Rail project

Further developments in Implementation of this project ............. January 2011 has been set as he start of the execution of this project.
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LAHORE

THE Punjab Transport department has proposed over Rs 6 billion in the upcoming budget to breathe life into the long overdue Lahore Rapid Mass Transit Rail Project (LRMT).

The project had lost its course after being revived in March 2009 when the Asian Development Bank and the steering committee for the LRMT agreed to employ a transactional adviser to start the project. The transactional advisor was to be a marketing/consultancy firm, which would market the project at the international level to attract investors on the Build Own Transfer (BOT) basis. However, transactional advisor was never appointed.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), from the very start, had pledged its support through $1 billion for the project of an estimated cost of around $2.5 billion. Talking to The News, Punjab Department of Transport Secretary Muhammad Yousuf said the Punjab government would need to invest around $400 million in the project to get it going.

The LRMT is estimated to serve around 350,000 people daily, covering 27 square kilometres. The government has not been able to make progress in this regard even after paying about Rs1 billion on its feasibility studies regarding the project, termed the only solution to traffic problems of the provincial metropolis..

According to the feasibility studies, two tracks are to be constructed, first North-South route, called the Green Line, and second East-West route called the Orange Line. The Green Line would cover Shahdara to Hamza Town via Ravi Road, Lower Mall, The Mall, Fatima Jinnah Road, Qartaba Chowk and Ferozepur Road. The Orange Line would cover Pakistan Mint to Sabzazar via Shahnur, 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-e-Ravi, Chauburji, Lake Road, Lakshmi Chowk, Railway Station, Sultanpura, UET, Baghbanpura and Shalimar Gardens.

The Transport secretary has claimed that the project has reached its final phase and the deadline set for the completion of the LRMT Green Line is three years.

The detailed design of the project is already underway and will be completed by the end of the year. The land acquisition for the Underground Railroad will start by January 2011.

The relocation of utilities has always been a contention among many circles ever since the project was conceptualised. The mesh of high power transmission lines, gas pipelines and telecom cable network buried not so systematically in the proposed route poses a great challenge. Work in this regard has been planned to commence from the first quarter of 2011.

Considering the power crisis in the country, the LRMT will have its own power production unit. The addition of the power production unit has pushed the total cost of the project even further.

The project has been surrounded by controversies right from the feasibility studies. Social circles have expressed their reservation about 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 come under discussion as citizens are worried about the noise level around the elevated portions of the track if sound barriers are not constructed. Already a lot of noise pollution is generated around Pakistan Railwayís elevated track which runs from Lahore Station to Badami Bagh.

Considering the challenges of attracting an investor, an experienced and capable operator, transparency to curtail embezzlements of funds and to address the environmental concerns of citizens, the project completion is an uphill task. The LRMT has seen periodic revivals and delays, however, it still remains to be seen if this one too is just another such episode.