$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 .........
------------------------------------------------------------

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.