Shahbaz buys ticket, travels as ordinary passenger in bus

That is what needed to be done in order to really understand the commuters problem ......... Great job CM but we want to see more n more buses on the roads of all country at the earliest as you have already wasted three years in bringing them on the roads

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PUNJAB Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday traveled as an ordinary commuter without any security or protocol in a newly launched urban transport bus in the provincial metropolis.

The other passengers of the bus were pleasantly surprised to see the chief minister and the bus resounded with the slogans of “Chief Minister Punjab Zindabad.” 

Urban Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan also accompanied him. The chief minister paid for the bus ticket and inquired from the fellow passengers about the new transport service. Expressing his views, a worker, Muhammad Yasin, said that people of Lahore were thankful to the chief minister for providing an affordable and comfortable bus service to Lahorites. The passengers requested the CM to increase the number of buses. The chief minister also went to the cabin of female passengers and informed them that a separate bus service would soon be launched for them. 

A student of the Government Gulberg College, Muhammad Siam, said that it was a wrong impression that students want to travel in the new buses free of charge but on the contrary they were grateful to the Punjab government for this facility and would continue to extend their cooperation.

It may be mentioned that when the chief minister boarded the bus from Model Town, no one had information about it and the bus continued to stop on its route to pick up passengers.

MEMOGATE SCANDAL: Shahbaz Sharif has said that Memogate scandal is a conspiracy against Pakistan’s sovereignty, survival and defence and its architects will have to be exposed. 

He said that every sacrifice would be made for the honour and solidarity of the country and the evil designs of the elements trying to weaken the country would be foiled. He was talking to assembly members of various districts here on Wednesday. He said that the person sitting in the President’s House was ready to go to any extreme to prolong his rule.

Pact with Chinese firm for 575 buses

CHIEF Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Punjab government is implementing a strategy for the provision of an affordable and comfortable transport service to the people and a project has already been initiated in the provincial metropolis.

He was speaking during a ceremony held for signing an agreement between the Punjab government and Chinese firm, Anhui Ankai Automobile Company Limited, for provision of buses here on Monday. Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan and Chinese company Chairman Wang Jiang’an signed the document under which, the company would provide 575 modern CNG air-conditioned buses to for various big cities of the province.

Addressing the event, the chief minister said that the agreement signed with the Chinese company was a welcome step and the buses would be plied in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Multan and other big cities of the province. He said that the best operators would be selected for operating the transport system. He said CNG air-conditioned buses were plying on Lahore roads with the cooperation of Foton Company and now an agreement had been signed with Ankai company for acquiring 575 such buses.

Chairman Ankai Company Wang Jiang’an said that prosperity of Pakistani people was dearer to him than commercial interests and all-out cooperation would be extended to the government for providing buses to Punjab on soft terms.

Member Provincial Assembly Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmed, the Planning & Development chairman, secretaries of Transport and Finance departments and senior officials of the Chinese company were also present. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif has said that agreements have been signed with Chinese companies for provision of modern transport facilities to the people and a transport network is being set up across the province.

Urban transport: LTC to Get Storage Tanks for Supply on Gas Holidays

LAHORE:

The Lahore Transport Company (LTC) is planning to import bowsers in which to store gas for use by buses on the three days a week that CNG stations are closed, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The LTC had asked the federal government to allow a few CNG stations to remain open from Monday to Wednesday so its CNG buses could continue running on these days. At the inauguration of a new bus service in the city earlier this month, LTC Chairman Khawaja Hassaan said that he was hopeful that they would get an exception on the gas holidays.

However, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) told the company recently that no relief would be given to the urban transport sector because there was a shortage and all CNG stations would remain closed on the gas holidays.

The LTC is now hoping to get around that restriction by importing large high pressure storage containers, called bowsers, and filling them up on days when gas is available. On gas holidays, the CNG buses would get filled up from the bowsers.

However, it is not clear whether, given the gas shortage, the LTC will have its way.

Gas pressure

The LTC subsidises bus transport in the city to the tune of Rs1,250 per bus, per day (calculated when the price of diesel was around Rs60 per litre). Buses operating on CNG are cheaper to run and require less subsidy, which is why the company is pushing CNG transport.

Tanvir Siddiqi, LTC’s senior operations manager, said that the company hoped to outsource the project to import Mats bowsers and use them as the gas shortage would grow more acute as the winter sets in and temperatures drop. He said the tanks would be able to store 1,500kg of high pressure gas. He said they hoped to bring in 10 bowsers, at a cost of around Rs80 million, which would keep around 200 buses running on gas holidays. He said that bus companies were keen on the project.

Siddiqi said that the LTC had hoped to open CNG stations for buses only, but the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) was not allowing any new licences for CNG stations or any stations to remain open on gas holidays. He said that the LTC had sought approval for the project from the SNGPL in writing. He said that he did not believe Ogra would have any objection to the project as the bowsers that the LTC would import would be of a high quality, better than some approved by the regulator.

“We have told them to get permission from Ogra,” said SNGPL Managing Director Arif Hameed. “But if Ogra asks us, we would not recommend such a step because there is a gas shortage.”

Ogra Member (Gas) Mansoor Muzaffar said that the LTC would need to go through an approval procedure. First, the project bowsers would have to be examined by the chief inspector (explosions). Then there would be a public hearing. “If the LTC management passes these procedures they will be allowed to use the bowsers for gas storage,” he said.

20 new buses

Speaking on Saturday at the inauguration of 20 new buses for the First Bus Service (FBS) on Saturday, Hassaan said that the LTC was “planning a mechanism” for CNG storage so that buses could continue running on gas holidays. He said that CNG-fitted transport was an integral part of the company’s urban transport policy. He said CNG fuel was more environment-friendly than fuels like diesel.

The 20 new buses are to run on Route No 1, which runs from RA Bazaar to Sanda and covers The Mall. The company will now run the required number of buses (30) on this route, when previously it was operating only 17. The older buses are to be diverted to other routes. The FBS now has a fleet of 112 buses.

Hassaan said that the increasing investment in the urban transport sector, in the midst of economic gloom, indicated that investors had confidence in the Punjab government. He credited the chief minister for this, saying his “dynamic leadership” had created a good atmosphere for business.

He said that the LTC had started building new bus stops which would have ‘passenger-amenity booths’, route maps and other facilities. The LTC had also started repairing and cleaning existing bus stops.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2011.

Hello Foton, bye bye Daewoo

In a bid to revamp urban transportation in Lahore, the Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated a fleet of ‘environment friendly’ CNG buses last week to cater to the growing demands of public transport in the city. Run under the banner of the Foton Bus Company, a Chinese firm, the service has launched 56 of 111 CNG buses, with the rest scheduled to hit the roads of Lahore by the end 2011.

As a means of providing modern transportation to the provincial capital, which is in a desperate need of an efficient public transport system, the bus service is expected to provide both quality and affordability. The service is currently to run buses on three routes with an expansion of service on another route by December. According to a promotional advert, the new bus scheme is to provide air-conditioned buses to commuters, with separate seating for women along with free transport to the elderly and people with disabilities.

However, the new bus service which was inaugurated on last Tuesday (November 15), failed to run buses on their routes just a day into their launch, leaving commuters highly disappointed. The Lahore Transport Company was in for another embarrassment when the buses failed to hit the roads in full operation as late as Thursday, airing much scepticism in the general masses regarding the new bus service. One week later half of the 56 buses are not operating. Contrary to the official announcement, the LTC now claims the bus operations were never really scheduled to kick off a day after the inauguration.

Countering growing suspicions regarding the buses being run on the already short in supply CNG, it was announced at the bus service inauguration that the LTC had engaged the federal government in facilitating the provision of CNG for the Chinese buses during the weekly CNG holidays, a factor which might also play a key role in determining the success or failure of the scheme in the future.

The launch of the new bus service initially hopes to offer reasonable competition to the Daewoo city bus service, which is currently a major player in Lahore public transport. Both bus services having been inaugurated by the current provincial government 13 years apart from one another had been launched to provide affordable quality bus service to daily commuters in the city. The ticket fare, which is monitored by the LTC, has been designed to make the two services comparable on affordability. The inclusion of the latest fleet of the Foton buses with its attractive interior and in-bus entertainment service is bound to steal the show from their Korean counterparts. But to make itself a worthwhile competitor in the longer run, the Foton bus service will have to do more than just induct a hundred fancy buses in its fleet.

Daewoo has provided its service to commuters in Lahore since 1998, it has developed a loyal clientèle which expects air-conditioned buses to run on routes on time despite the weekly CNG holidays, which offers no hurdle to the service that runs on the not-so-environmental-friendly diesel. Daewoo currently has as many as 70 buses operating on four routes in the city. Last year they focused on improving the quality of their bus service by overhauling older vehicles in their fleet.

Now, with LTC bringing in the Chinese contenders on the roads, the Korean bus service might just be in for a surprise with the former claiming to put much premium on quality. The stakes are to rise in the coming days for all bus services in the city with the Chief Minister announcing as many as 200 ‘quality buses’ to be inducted in the public transport system of the city.

The dearth of buses in the city can be established by the fact that out of the 53 routes planned by the LTC for bus transport service, only 30 are operational in the city. According to LTC authorities, the city requires as many as 2,000 buses on the roads. In stark contradiction to this figure, an official estimate claims approximately 600 buses are currently offering public commuting in Lahore.

But with an increase in problems relating to public transportation, even the 2,000 figure by the LTC will have to be reconsidered. The lack of quality public bus service in the city has, over a period of time, increased the traffic on roads with people resorting to their own transport. With growing concerns of increasing pollution and traffic congestion on the roads of Lahore, measures must be taken to promote a healthier and environment friendly alternative. The challenge, however, largely lies in providing commuters with efficient, affordable and quality alternatives which will encourage them to use public transpo

Korean Cooperation in Transport: CM meets Korean Delegates

Some more activity by CM ....... as election are drawing near

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The ambassador of South Korea in Pakistan, Choong Joo Choi, met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif here on Saturday and discussed matters of mutual interest as well as cooperation in transport, mining, hydle power and other sectors.

Member National Assembly Pervaiz Malik, Chairman Lahore Transport Company Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan and the Transport secretary were also present.

Talking to the Korean ambassador, the chief minister said that Pakistan had cordial relations with South Korea which had made remarkable progress in various sectors. He said that there were vast opportunities of cooperation in different sectors in Punjab and the provincial government had created a favourable environment for promotion of investment and all facilities were being provided to investors under one roof. He said that he had visited South Korea during his last tenure and introduced a well-organized transport system for the first time in Pakistan in the form of Daewoo Bus Service.

He said that an air-conditioned CNG bus service had recently been launched in Lahore with the cooperation of Chinese company, Foton, which had resulted in availability of affordable, comfortable and efficient transport service to the people. He said that, in the next phase, similar transport facilities would be provided in Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi and other big cities of the province.

He said that an agreement had been signed between the leading companies of Istanbul and Solid Waste Management for the disposal of solid waste from provincial metropolis while negotiations were also being held with different Korean companies for cooperation in various sectors - including Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) and Mono Rail project. He said that Korea had expertise in transport, hydle power, mining and other sectors and it could also extend cooperation in BRT and mono rail sectors in Punjab. He said that Daewoo was playing a commendable role in providing transport facilities to the people and, like other investors, Daewoo bus service would continue to be provided maximum facilities. He thanked the ambassador for taking keen interest in cooperation in various sectors and said that heads of various departments of Punjab government would send proposals to Korean Embassy in the light of which further steps would be taken for cooperation.

LTC Mismanagement: Problems Begin

This was indeed expected ....... when things started without any planning ..... Lets see how long they keep on plying ......... Shame on MAO College students

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LAHORE:

Issues with CNG supply and thuggish passengers plagued the Foton Bus Company on its first day of operations on Thursday, forcing it to suspend the service for several hours.

The bus service, initially introduced on three routes, was supposed to start on Wednesday. But unable to get CNG because of the two weekly gas holidays, the company had to delay the launch till Thursday.

The service started slowly yesterday with few buses plying the routes, as the supply of CNG only resumed early morning. Then in the early afternoon, the buses encountered students of MAO College at closing time.

The students forced the buses to stop and demanded free rides. This is common practice on bus routes that go past colleges, but it was a first for the Chinese management.

They immediately stopped all buses and informed the Lahore Transport Company (LTC). Service resumed around five hours later, by which time all the students were gone.

Meanwhile, several drivers complained that the company had warned them that they would be liable for any damage to the bus while they drive it. They said that this was unfair.

“We know the traffic, roads and commuters of this city,” said one driver. “There could be a strike somewhere and protestors might break the windows. Or a bad driver could hit the bus. Why should I be held responsible for that?”

A Lahore Transport Company official said that LTC staff would ensure that the students do not harass the bus drivers from Friday, but added that the FBC was still learning about the local public transport environment.

“Foton is an international company and all of its management is from China. They are not aware of the conditions in which transport operates in Lahore. This was the main reason they panicked and stopped operations,” said LTC Senior Operations Manager Tanveer Siddique.

He said that the LTC would deploy its enforcement staff at areas where students commonly got on buses to prevent them from harassing buses and drivers. “The enforcement staff will take care so in future no such issue occurs again,” he said.

He said that the LTC was “hopeful” that the management of FBC would not require that drivers pay for any damage to the bus.

At the inauguration ceremony for the bus service on Tuesday, LTC Chairman Khawaja Hassaan told The Tribune that the LTC was negotiating with the federal government for a few CNG stations to remain open on gas holidays (Tuesday and Wednesday) so these buses might continue to run.

Siddique said that for now, the company would have to restrict services on CNG holidays by running fewer buses during off-peak hours. He said the buses had greater capacity than other buses and could run the whole day on one CNG fill-up.

Public Transport: Chinese Company Launches New CNG Bus Service

LAHORE:The Foton Bus Company (FBC) finally launched operations in Lahore on Tuesday, introducing a fleet of 56 new imported CNG buses on three routes.

Now this has to be seen that how long this company manages to run these modern buses

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Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif rode on the bus from his residence to the secretariat after the inaugural ceremony in Model Town, which he attended along with Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan and FBC vice president Zong Chris Jones.

Foton was supposed to start services at the end of June with a fleet of 111 buses, but was delayed after the federal government imposed a new sales tax on imports. LTC officials said that another 55 Foton buses would hit the roads before the end of the year.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the chief minister said that transport was critical for the country’s development. Apart from theFoton Bus Company, he said that the government had signed an agreement with a local company for the provision of 200 quality buses. He said that the Punjab government had decided to bring 700 new buses to the cities of Punjab.

He said that a Chinese company’s investment in the transport sector in the province despite the problem of terrorism showed how much China trusted the Punjab government.

Hassaan said that commuters would “feel the difference” in terms of comfort when they ride the new Foton buses. He later told The Express Tribune that they were negotiating with the federal government for a gas deal so that the buses could run on the weekly CNG holidays.

He said that there was no need to clamp down on alternative means of transport like unlicensed rickshaws and vans on the FBC’s routes, as people would immediately stop using them. “We strongly believe that citizens want to travel in affordable and quality buses. These other forms of transport became popular because they were cheap and the buses were always overcrowded and in poor condition,” he said.

FBC vice president Zong Chris Jones said at the inauguration ceremony that the company was planning to expand its operations in Lahore. He said that the Punjab government had facilitated the company in all matters and this would strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Foton will run buses on route B-9, which starts at the City Railway Station and ends at Kahna via Lakshmi Chowk, Hall Road, Ganga Ram Hospital, Mozang, Ichhra, the Canal, Kalma Chowk, Model Town and Chungi Amar Sadhu; on B-20-B, which starts at Green Town and goes to Bagrian Chowk, Akbar Chowk, New Campus, Yateem Khana Chowk, Chauburji, Data Darbar, Azadi Chowk and end at Niazi Chowk; and route B-33-B, which starts at Hamdard Chowk and goes to Barkat Chowk, Akbar Chowk, Jinnah Hospital, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Wahdat Road, Muslim Town, Shadman, Lawrence Road, Egerton Road and the City Railway Station.

Date announced by LTC for start of Bus Service

November 15th is the day when the Bus Service is going to be inaugurated .......... Finally

Public transport: Route No 1 could go to Chinese bus service

Seems LTC is doing something ........ as now its November but no buses on the road.

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The Lahore Transport Company is considering offering the most lucrative bus route in the city to a Chinese company about to start operations here even though a local company is currently running buses on the route.

Route No 1 runs from RA Bazaar to Sanda near Bund Road and is run by the First Bus Service. Thousands of commuters use it daily to get to government buildings and private offices as well as schools, colleges and universities on The Mall. The route is also kept clear of motorcycle and two-stroke rickshaws, which are often accused by bus companies of stealing their customers.

An LTC official told The Express Tribune that the management would probably award the route to the Foton Bus Company (FTC), which is to start operations in Lahore this month. He said that the LTC had engaged in lengthy negotiations with the Chinese company, in which Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and LTC chief Khawaja Hassaan had also been involved.

“An international company will always want the main routes and that was the case here too,” he said. “There is no comparison between the Chinese and local company … the government will always give preference to the Chinese company.”

LTC spokesman Amjad Hussain said no final decision on the issue had been made yet. He said that the LTC would facilitate all bus companies. He said a lack of buses meant that many commuters were forced to arrange their own transport. “Once quality bus services start their operations, the number of public transport users will definitely increase,” he added.

The First Bus Service won Route No 1 a year ago after the LTC took it away from New Khan Bus Service, which had operated there for over a decade, because it could not run the required number of buses on the route or keep its vehicles road worthy. The FBS is also currently operating just 15 buses on the route, when it is supposed to run at least 32. However, it has imported 20 buses from China which are currently at Karachi port and are to arrive in Lahore next week.

FBS Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Dastgeer said that the government would not be easily able to give the route to Foton since they had a signed agreement with the LTC in this regard. He said he had not heard of plans to award the route to the Chinese company.

FBS General Manager Maqsoodul Haq said he had not heard the plan either, but the FBS would oppose it. He said that the LTC had started a Coaster service on the route a few months ago that had hurt their business. “We have yet to receive the subsidy for buses operated on this route since January this year. We are owed a total of Rs13.8 million in subsidies on Route No 1,” he added.

Lahore Mass Transit: No News No Update

August 14th, 2011 was the date for the inauguration of this project and now Sep 14th, October 14th, and November 14th is near but till yet no news. I just want to convey a message to CM Shahbaz Sharif, give us the LRMTS and we will give you the vote.

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