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.
How long ........... Nothing to say or left to say
-------------------------------------------------------
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.
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