Lahore Mass Transit Blog

Local bus service to be started in Rawalpindi

2011-12-26T02:31:00.001-08:00

RAWALPINDI: District Coordination Officer (DCO) Saqib Zafar has said that soon local bus service would be started in Rawalpindias VARAN urban transport company and one other transport companies have shown interest in re-launching urban transport service in the city after getting their buses repaired.

He said World Bank will provide a loan of Rs.150 million to five District Governments of the Punjab for improving services in Solid Waste Management, Water and Sanitation, and Urban Transport sectors which would help in providing better and improved services to the people in these sectors.

Rawalpindi City District Government would also be provided share from this loan by the Punjab Government and this loan would be utilized for improving landfill site, lifting of solid waste, improving transferring station, bus stand and incentives for commuters of CNG buses, he said DCO said that the loan being obtained from the World Bank would also be utilized for the improvement of Pirwedhai Bus Stand.

He informed that a loan of Rs.600,000 was demanded by the VARAN urban transport to get their buses repaired, but an amount of Rs. 400,000 would be provided to them for repair of their buses.

He said that along with the bus service, the wagon service already running on Murree Road and other routs would also be continued so that the citizens may avail sufficient facilities of transport.

He informed that daily 200 tons solid waste is being lifted from the city and carried to Transferring Station Rawat and there after it is shifted to land fill site near Villege Losar.

He said that the loan would also be utilized for installation of energy plant at landfill site to generate Electricity and benefit the local population which will also maintain the hygienic atmosphere in the area.

DCO informed that the Punjab Government would decide the volume and share of loan for city District GovernmentRawalpindi from the total amount of loan mentioned above.

CM Inaugurated Bus Rapid Transit System

2011-12-25T14:59:00.000-08:00

Never saw him so active in the last three years ..... Its all because elections are near .....
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The chief minister also laid the foundation stone for the First Bus Rapid Transit System on Ferozepur Road. In the first phase of the project, 27 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes will be built from Gajju Mata to Shahdara.

He said that 15 kilometres of bus lanes will be built under the project by March. A Turkish firm is helping the government develop a modern bus transport system, he said. The Punjab government has also signed an agreement with a Turkish company in the solid waste management sector.

LTC Working for Students Fare

2011-12-15T23:41:00.000-08:00

This shows that they are serious in letting the service go ............
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Lahore Transport Company (LTC) chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan has constituted a team to interact with the heads of education institutions to generate awareness and identify elements among the student community responsible for disrupting public transport in the city.

Committee members have met with the principals of Gulberg College for Boys, Islamia College Civil Lines and Dayal Singh College, vice chancellor Punjab University and, Superior University. The committee is working on developing options for student fare concessions in consultation with the heads. Hassaan said, he hoped to announce a student fare scheme soon.

The LTC chairman told a programme review meeting that education institution heads would be held responsible for any incidents of hooliganism by their students. He said police and the LTC enforcement staff would provide security to the buses operating in the city.

The media, he added, had played a positive role in mobilising public opinion in favour of ensuring an efficient and affordable transport system in the city.

Hassaan also said he expected parents to play their role in making students appreciate the projects launched by the city government.

Transport Master Plan 2030: KMC

2011-12-13T23:19:00.000-08:00

Keep making plans ..... from 2020, now its 2030 ......... suffering of the commuters will keep growing
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KARACHI: Administrator, Karachi Municipal Corporation, Muhammad Hussain Syed has underlined the need of coordinated measures to solve transport problems in the mega city.

According to a statement issued here Tuesday, this he said in meeting with a delegation of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).

He said that the city administration is working on Transport Master Plan 2030, which was prepared in collaboration with JICA to improve transport system.

He said that the project, which kicked off last year, is currently in planning stage. Planning is divided in two phases and the work on Phase-I would be completed by the end of June this year. The second phase will further take two years to complete.

He said a Bus Transit System (BTS) or a Rail Transit System (RTS) or a combination of both is being planned for the city.

A detailed study concerning the site of the project is being carried out by a consultancy team from Japan and Pakistan at different corridors of the metropolis.

He hoped that after completion of these projects, transport problems of the city will be resolved and people will get better transport facilities.

Public Transport: Foton Buses may Resume Operations Today

2011-12-11T16:03:00.001-08:00

Oh these students are no less than a Mafia .......... but LTC should come in and work out a concession for the students as they promise in the beginning

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LAHORE:

The Foton Bus Service remained suspended for a third day on Sunday, in protest at the vandalism of buses and beating and intimidation of drivers by college students.

Foton stopped running its buses on Friday after college students held up two buses and demanded to ride for free, thrashed the bus drivers and other crew members, vandalised the vehicles and even stole their money. This has happened several times since the service began in Lahore last month, including on its first day.

Students of public sector colleges have long used such tactics to reach an informal understanding with local transport companies that they will not pay for rides. However, the Chinese company was long wooed by the Punjab government to invest in public transport in the province and the company is putting pressure on local authorities to get the students to behave.

Lahore Transport Company (LTC) officials said they were optimistic that Foton would restart the service on Monday, after assurances from local authorities and the police that their buses would be protected, as well as discussions with student groups.

“Foton has assured us that they will run their buses on Monday,” said Tanveer Sadiq, LTC’s senior operations manager. “We have been meeting with student leaders and groups to resolve the problem.” He said that the police had pledged to protect Foton’s buses.

LTC Chairman Khawaja Hassaan told The Express Tribune that the company had written to all government colleges to propose that they incorporate bus fares in their fees, which would remove their incentive to hold up and vandalise buses. “We are meeting with students and teachers to decide the tariff,” he said. “The buses are meant to make travel more convenient for the students so they should not be breaking them.”

However, he added, the LTC would not be able to make bus cards for students of all public and private colleges, so a separate proposal to reduce bus fares was also under consideration. “We are considering reducing the fare between stops from Rs15 to Rs5, and on long journeys from Rs30 to Rs10,” he said.

Transport competition

Foton and LTC officials said that they suspected local transport companies had paid people to pose as students and disrupt their service, as the Chinese company’s entry in the public transport sector signalled unwelcome competition.

Hasasan said that local transport “mafias” may be involved in the attacks on Foton buses. “The rickshaw mafia and wagon mafia don’t want buses to prosper,” he said. “We are keeping an eye on all the mafias and will take action against them if they are involved.”

Arshad Khan Niazi, owner of a well-known transport company, denied that his company was involved in any such business. “We are not gangsters who hire thugs to trouble other businesses,” he said.

He said that local transport companies were accustomed to the “tough environment” created by the students but continued to operate. “We believe in forgive and forget since maintaining good relations with our customers is important, unlike foreign companies that are only here to mint money,” he said.

As Usual: CNG buses tender goes to 6th lowest bidder

2011-12-03T03:27:00.001-08:00

The Punjab government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to supply 575 CNG air conditioned buses to the citizens, with a financial bidder who was at the sixth position, rejecting five other bidders, official documents of the bidding revealed.

According to official documents available with The News, the Lahore Transport Company (LTC) - owned by the Punjab government and registered under section 42 of Companies Ordinance 1984 - has awarded the tender to a Chinese firm, Anhul Ankai, whose bid was the sixth lowest. The Company ignored other bidders ready to supply the buses on much lesser price than the firm.

According to the documents, the successful company demanded a price of $75653 for a bus whereas the lowest bidder was Shanghai Sunlong bus Co Ltd which demanded $62490 for a bus. Among other bidders, Plum Qingqi Motors Ltd/XIAMEN Golden Dragon Bus Company Ltd was the second lowest financial bidder with the bid money of $67450 per bus; Norinco Motors/Yutong was the third lowest financial bidder with a bid price of $68350 per bus; and Zhongtong Bus Holding Company of was the fourth lowest financial bidder with bid price of $69375 per bus. However, this bidder filled two bids and its lowest bid was $60375 per bus.

Interestingly, the LTC gave the tender to Anhul Ankai, signing a MoU to bring 575 buses in Lahore city, ignoring all other bidders.

When contacted, political advisor to Punjab chief minister and LTC chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassan, told The News that tender was awarded on the basis of evaluation marks, including financial and technical bids and five year maintenance costs of these buses. He said financial bid was the one aspect of the process while other matters were also equally important to award tender. However, he refused to tell the details of the grounds on which the lowest financial bidders were rejected, saying that this could not be told off hand without seeing the documents in details.

On the condition of anonymity, the representatives of a company participating in the bidding process alleged that the LTC had not involved and intimated them after opening of financial bid documents. He said the LTC had knocked out the lowest financial bidders without informing them about the reason of their failure while signing MoU with sixth financial bidder. It put question mark on the transparency of the project.

He said that the LTC had not even returned the bid money to unsuccessful bidders, despite getting it in August 2011.

Adnan Mudassar, General Manager Finance of LTC, told The News that the Anhul Ankai had scored 189 marks after evaluation of financial and technical bids while the second bidder score was 170 points. He said the LTC had followed the World Bank Process QCBS (quality and cost base selection) method in evaluating and awarding the tender of the buses. He said that successful company buses was the best international certification under which, if a bus met an accident, only front and back windscreens would be broken while the windows glasses would not be damaged.

Other then this, the successful bidder had also made a commitment to establish assembly line of their buses in Lahore, he added. He said that the final price between the LTC and successful bidder was decided at $70,000 per bus against the filled price of $75653 while the company would complete the supply of buses April 2012.

He said that the process of returning the bid money to unsuccessful bidders had started. They would also be informed about their evaluation score, he added.

LRMTS to be completed by 2020: Urban Transport Master Plan for Lahore

2011-12-02T00:54:00.001-08:00

So guys give up all hopes now as finally now this Master plan gives the date of completion of Green Line of LRMTS by 2020 ......... Probably we can see it when most of us will be pretty old
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Shahbaz buys ticket, travels as ordinary passenger in bus

2011-11-30T23:56:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-29T00:06:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-27T02:20:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-24T12:05:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-18T22:51:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-15T17:13:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-13T02:27:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-07T02:43:00.000-08:00

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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LTC: Still Exists or all Gone

2011-10-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

Imagine the condition of Urban Transport in Lahore and the plight of daily commuters .......... Where are those Foton buses which are supposed to be arrived by now. Ironic and shameful.

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Foton Buses arriving in Lahore: Hope to see them soon on Roads

2011-09-25T16:01:00.000-07:00

ww.chinabuses.org: On 6th September 2011, the delivery ceremony of 111 units CNG City Buses to Pakistan was held in AUV plant in Changping, Beijing. Ye Zhaoyou, general manager of Foton Bus, Li Hongjun, secretary of the Party committee and the directors from Overseas Sales & Marketing Division of Foton Bus attended this ceremony.

Foton company management attented the delivery ceremony

In recent years, Overseas Sales & Marketing Division of Foton Bus is always dedicated to promoting of the brand influence in the overseas market. In 2011, Foton AUV buses export to the countries such as Taiwan, India, Syria and Algeria in mass production.

Foton AUV CNG city bus BJ6100

Since the delivery of the prototype two years ago, Foton Bus has made breakthrough in the market in Pakistan and made the purchasing agreement with the public transport company in Sindh province. These 111 units BJ6100 gas city buses are the first buses for this order, which lays important foundation for the bus builder in the market in Pakistan.

Inner decoration of BJ6100

Foton AUV BJ6100 buses perfectly combine energy-saving and environment protection, outfitted with powerful engines made in China and innovative chassis confirming higher security of the complete vehicles, showing high level of passenger comfort as well as good performance of products.

Zhao Liang, manager of overseas sales & marketing made a speech

Mr. Zhao Liang, executive deputy general manager of Overseas Sales & Marketing Division, made a brief introduction about the exporting buses to Pakistan and showed their obedience to the brand concept of “science & technology creates values and green leads to the future”, further developing long-term cooperation with the customers in Pakistan.

the first batch AUV city buses will serve Pakistan people

LTC to give training to Drivers:

2011-09-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

Another drama to waste time .................. Guys no chance of seeing buses on road

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The Lahore Transport Company (LTC) will establish a professional driving school for drivers of buses on urban routes,The Express Tribune has learnt. The driving school is to be located at Badami Bagh, where the LTC owns 11.5 kanals.

The need for the school arose as transport companies were found short of professionally trained drivers. Although, some companies employ professionally trained drivers, most depend on drivers who have not been professionally trained.

The passengers of many local companies have complained about rash driving but the companies do not take any action due to the shortage of drivers.

LTC chairman Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan told The Tribune that bus companies are keen for a driving school. He said they had asked the National Logistic Cell (NLC) to be driving consultants as they were already operating five driving schools. He said the NLC had agreed to provide input to the project.

“Lahore is running out of professionally trained drivers. Many transport companies are working with inexperienced and poorly trained drivers. All the transport companies appreciate this plan and are keen to invest in the school,” he added

First Bus Service general manager Masoodul Haq said LTC should have the authority to monitor drivers and control over issuance of driving licenses.

However, he wondered whether or not a transport company that was investing in the infrastructure could be fair to the drivers of another company.

He said the idea was that the NLC would be consultants on the project and the investing transport company would clear drivers for licences. He said a better method would be for the LTC to give driving tests and leave the licensing to the appropriate authority. He said it would also be fine if one company provides the training and the LTC monitors the training.

Hassaan countered Haq’s misgivings, saying that the school would be under the LTC’s control.

He added that Foton Bus Company had shown an interest in investing. He pointed out that the ‘investing company’ would only be investing in the infrastructure and all companies were free to call in experts from anywhere in Pakistan or abroad to help train LTC trainers. “After training, only these LTC trainers would be authorised to train the bus drivers and to approve them for driving licences.”

Atif Nazar who frequently travels by urban buses said that the move was for the better for the transport system. He said drivers were often rash especially as they were aware of the absence of a monitoring authority. He said proper training by international standards and monitoring of the drivers would solve the problem.

He said besides fine tickets, the real threat to drivers would be when their driving licences start getting suspended or withdrawn.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2011.

Development finance: Funding woes threaten to derail mass transit train

2011-08-26T22:13:00.000-07:00

So here comes the reality ................ as the fate of such projects ............ this will keep lingering on as the governments either provincial or federal in this country's history never have the resources at all. So all seems in vain.

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The fate of the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) project hangs in the balance as the federal government has yet to agree to be a guarantor to a $1.445 billion loan the Punjab government needs to obtain from China.

A Finance Department official speaking on condition of anonymity said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had broached the subject in a meeting with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani at Prime Minister’s Secretariat in the second week of August but no progress could be made.

He said earlier the Finance Department had already requested the Ministry of Finance to be a guarantor to the loan. “Provinces cannot secure foreign loans without the federal government providing a guarantee to the lender,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Transport Department official said that the Export Import (EXIM) Bank of China had yet to respond to a provincial government request, seeking processing of the loan. He said the provincial government had suggested that after the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the provinces could secure loans on their own subject to conditions laid out by the National Economic Council (NEC).

Lahore Transport Company chairman Khwaja Ahmed Hassaan toldThe Express Tribune that the government had this week received a letter from EXIM Bank. However, he added, he was still unaware of the contents of the letter. Hassaan said a meeting would likely be convened in a couple of days in this regard.

An official said that under the two memorandums of understanding (MoU) signed between the provincial government and the Chinese firm, NORINCO, the latter was to ensure that processing of the loan took place without any glitches. Under the agreement, the provincial government was to bear 15 per cent of the cost of the project. The rest was to be provided by the EXIM Bank of China in the form of a loan. The total cost of the project was estimated at $1.7 billion.

The MoUs signed in April and July stated that NORINCO would lay the 27-kilometre (km) track from Gajju Matta, on Ferozepur Road, to Shahdara. As much as 7 km of the track would be underground.

The official said NORINCO had also agreed to obtain a letter of interest by EXIM Bank for the project within a month of the signing of the second MoU.

The official said no groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 14 as planned earlier because of the uncertainty about the funding for the project.

LTC chairman Hassaan said tenders will not be invited unless the Chinese company refused to undertake the project. He said the company had the right of first refusal under the MoUs.

The LRMTS project was first proposed in 1991 after a study carried out by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In 2008, a feasibility study report was prepared by Systra, a French company, and a ceremony held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

(Read: Underpass on hold over mass transit concerns)

The Lahore Transport Company (LTC) is currently in charge of negotiations with the Chinese authorities.

LTC ready to Give 0.4 million Subsidy per Bus

2011-08-26T01:36:00.000-07:00

Finally LTC comes to what it was suppose to do much before ........... giving subsidy to the existing bus operators ............. hit n trial policy

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LAHORE:

The Punjab government has decided to refurbish 300 off-road buses at a cost of Rs400,000 each as it struggles to attract investment in the city’s collapsing public transport system.

A proposal for the award of the contract for the repair of the buses to the National Logistics Cell (NLC) will likely be approved soon, an official familiar with the development told The Express Tribune. He said there were no plans to invite bids for the contract.

There are only 375 buses running in Lahore. In January 2009, the Punjab government announced plans to import thousands of new buses. Two years later, no new buses have arrived, despite the Lahore Transport Company (LTC) offering subsidies of Rs1 million per diesel bus and Rs1.2 million per CNG bus.

In June 2011, the LTC finally signed an agreement with a Chinese company for 300 new buses and the first batch of 111 was to arrive in August. But that too has been delayed. LTC chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan said that a team of government experts would visit China next week for a pre-shipment inspection. He said the first batch of air-conditioned CNG buses 76, not 111 would arrive on September 15.

A Finance Department official said that the Chinese company had several concerns about the profitability of the venture. One concern was the availability of cheap rickshaws and vans and the lack of government action to remove them from bus routes. Another was the lack of a regulatory mechanism to facilitate investors, and the power of “the transport mafia”, the official said.

Hassaan said that transport companies had asked the Punjab government to help with the repair of a large number of off-road buses. He said that no contract had been awarded. The government had sent the NLC two buses to refurbish to create a template of minimum acceptable improvement for the other buses, he said. The owners would inspect the repaired buses and could then select any company to repair their vehicles, provided they did the essential repairs done by the NLC.

The government would pay up to Rs400,000 per bus. Any expense beyond that would be borne by the owner. He said that the LTC had also made an arrangement with SNGPL guaranteeing the supply of CNG to buses. He said 411 new and refurbished buses would be introduced in the city within a year.

Confusion over Right of Way at Kalma Flyover: Either for LRMTS, BRTS or for Model Town

2011-08-26T01:32:00.001-07:00

The 10-metre road corridor beneath the Kalma Chowk flyover will be made into a one-way lane for motorists travelling to Model Town, even though it has been marked for use as a bus lane in plans for a citywide bus system.

Workers have begun paving the road corridor, after which they will start building slip roads around the flyover, which was ‘completed’ on August 14.

Sabir Khan, the project director for the works at Kalma Chowk, said that the road corridor would be made into a one-way lane for motorists travelling to Model Town. He said cars heading to Model Town via Ferozepur Road from the direction the Canal would be able to get onto the road corridor by taking a right at the traffic signal at Kalma Chowk. Vehicles from Gulberg’s Main Boulevard heading to Model Town would also get onto the road corridor from Kalma Chowk, he said.

Khan said the idea was to prevent the obstruction of traffic getting off the flyover and heading towards Kot Lakhpat by vehicles from Gulberg cutting across from a service lane to the left of the flyover to turn right at the entrance to Model Town. He said the corridor was a temporary solution until an underpass is built at the interchange.

The chairman of the Lahore Transport Company, which is making plans for the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) in partnership with a Turkish company, said that he had not heard about the road corridor being reserved for traffic to Model Town, but was certain that when the BRTS is built, the road corridor will be in use as a bus lane. “How can a less than half kilometre stretch of road be allowed to threaten a project of such dimensions?” said Khawaja Hassaan.

He said that the chief minister was very keen on the BRTS and was demanding regular updates on the progress of the project. He said work on the first phase from Gajju Mata to Model Town would be completed by August 31.

Another Lahore Transport Company official said that no notice had been received from the Communication and Works Department concerning the use of the road corridor. He said if the department had decided to use the road corridor for traffic heading to Model Town, it was a decision made without consulting with the LTC.

He said the corridor might also be needed for the Lahore Rapid Mass Transportation System (LRMTS) as an elevated level or underground. “It shows the lack of coordination between departments,” he said.

He expressed concern that if the road corridor was reserved for Model Town traffic, it would be hard to reclaim for later use as a bus lane. “I don’t see the Model Town underpass ever being built so the residents will not want to give up the road,” he said.

Model Town Society President Tahir Hussain Kardar said that he hadn’t heard from the project director since the flyover was inaugurated, but he had heard that the road corridor would be reserved for Model Town traffic after plans to build an underpass had been put on hold.

“We think it will be hard to construct an underpass here because of a lack of funds. I don’t know why they wasted the money on designing the underpass and other preliminary activities,” Kardar said, adding that residents would hold protests at the chief minister’s house in Model Town if the underpass were not built.

Chinese Firm LRMTS Concerns: Kalma Chowk Underpass Put on Hold

2011-08-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

That's indeed the right thing done ........ as priority should be given to the LRMTS not CM's interests

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The Punjab government has decided to stop the development of an underpass at Kalma Chowk, days after Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced the project at theinauguration of the Kalma Chowk flyover on August 14. The government gave no official explanation for the suspension of the project.

The chief minister, at a meeting in the Civil Secretariat a couple of days ago, directed Communications and Works Department officials to suspend work on the underpass as the traffic congestion on Ferozepur Road had eased since the flyover had been opened.

Sharif had also announced at the Independence Day ceremony that after the Kalma Chowk underpass, another underpass would be built at the entrance to Model Town on Ferozepur Road. That project is also now on hold.

The chief minister told the C&W officials to prepare a feasibility report for an underpass at Qainchi Amar Sadhu, another of the traffic chokepoints on Ferozepur Road.

Rana Arshad, additional secretary for the Communication and Works Department, said that the department would start work on the feasibility report soon.

Officials suggested that there were two reasons the government has decided to delay building the underpass at Kalma Chowk.

A Planning and Development official said that the project could have had a negative impact on plans to build the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS).

“We were surprised when Shahbaz Sharif gave the green light to C&W for the project as the Chinese [consultants for the LRMTS] had expressed concern about the effect that building an underpass at Kalma Chowk would have,” he said.

The consultants, as well as the Planning and Development Department, had asked the government to delay the underpass until a feasibility study of the LRMTS is completed, he added.

The official said that a lack of funds was another reason the underpass had been put on hold.

A city district government official said that they had been planning to fund the underpasses at Kalma Chowk and Model Town by selling government land repossessed in a recent drive against encroachments.

District Officer (Finance) Mian Waheed said that the city government had planned to borrow money from the Punjab government and then repay it after selling the land. “Now both projects are on hold we have more time to auction the land and maybe get a better price,” he added.

The chief minister’s decision appeared to disappoint the team executing the Kalma Chowk flyover and underpass projects, as they declined to talk about the matter.

Arshad, the additional C&W secretary, said the city government had not allocated any money for the underpass prior to the chief minister’s decision to suspend the project. Asked if the project had been delayed because of the LRMTS, he refused to comment.

Rafay Alam, a prominent environmental activist, welcomed the decision to suspend the underpass and said ament should instead focus on developing public transport.

Failure of LTC: Still giving ads for plying buses

2011-08-18T00:34:00.001-07:00

LTC should realize now that it has failed badly as none of his policies have worked and since the tenure of PML-N .......... no bus has been brought on the road & still asking for expression of interests from the companies ........ Shame

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Karachi Bus Rapid Transit Project: Call to extend routes

2011-08-17T04:21:00.000-07:00

KARACHI, Aug 16: While Japanese experts studying the feasibility of a transport project have planned two bus routes from suburban areas to the city centre, the city government has requested them to extend the routes by incorporating other parts of the metropolis in the plan.

The request was made at a briefing given by the Japanese experts on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a part of the Karachi Transportation Improvement Project, to a joint steering committee comprising government officials, said Karachi Mass Transit Cell (KMTC) chief Rasheed Mughal on Tuesday.

The study being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency is likely to complete by the end of next year.

He said that the two BRT routes — from Surjani Town and Safoora Goth to the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam — suggested by the Japanese team, headed by Minoru Shibuya, would cater to around 800,000 passengers on a daily basis.

Under the BRT system, a separate lane would be reserved for the buses to cut travel time drastically, he added.

He said the Japanese team suggested that the first route (being described as Red Line) buses would start their journey from Safoora Goth and end it at the Mazar-i-Quaid. Over 350,000 passengers used this route, mainly University Road, on a daily basis, he added.

The official said the other route buses would start from Surjani Town and reach the Mazar-i-Quaid after passing through Nazimabad and Golimar, according to the experts, though they were not clear about the right of way through the congested area of Golimar.

Over 430,000 passengers used this route on a daily basis, he added.

The KMTC chief said the city government officials told the Japanese experts that the passengers would face difficulties if the routes ended at the mausoleum.

They suggested to the team that the first route be extended up to Regal Chowk by including the Preedy Street corridor in it.

About the other route, the officials had two proposals. Firstly, they said, the route from Golimar onwards could include Daak Khana, Teen Hatti, Jail Chowrangi, Shaheed-i-Millat Road and Sharea Faisal. Secondly, they added, from Golimar onwards, the route could be diverted to Sharae Faisal via Shahrah-i-Quaideen.

Mr Mughal said the Japanese team liked the suggestions and told the city government officials that they would discuss the same with JICA. If the proposals were approved, they would continue with the study, the team members were quoted as saying. He said the team then left for Japan.

The experts would return within the next few weeks to start working on the second phase of the study, he said.

Meanwhile, he said, the CDGK was planning to organise a seminar to make people aware of the findings, suggestions and recommendations related to the project so that feedback of civil society and other stakeholders could be looked into and made part of the plan if deemed appropriate.

He said the study would complete by the end of 2012 and then implementation would begin. By 2016, the BRT would be operational with foreign assistance.

He said that separate lanes, bus stations and other infrastructure would be built and buses would be purchased under the Rs21 billion worth project. It would be operated through a private operator, with the government working as a monitoring body, he added.

LRMTS space allocation in Kalma Chowk Flyover

2011-08-11T03:46:00.000-07:00

Just got this news that they do have given provision for LRMTS line while constructing the fly over ----------------------------------------------------------------

The Kalma Chowk flyover is underway and the bridge is set to be opened for traffic on August 14, though the construction of footpaths and installation of decorative tiles and other small works have yet to begin.

Talking to The Express Tribune, project director Sabir Khan said the inauguration would take place on the scheduled date.

He said some minor works including the shifting of electricity poles from the site would be undertaken after the inauguration. “We can’t move the electricity poles at the moment. It will cause severe traffic jams on the service lanes,” he said.

Khan said the carpeting of the roads would be complete in another day, after which they would begin painting lane markings.

The flyover is yet to be connected to Ferozepur Road. Khan said work was underway on one of the approaches, on the Gaddafi stadium side, and the remaining three would also be connected to the road before August 14.

Khan said work on underpass would begin immediately after the flyover is inaugurated.

A structure would be installed at the site to mark the inauguration of the flyover.

A 10-feet-wide space on Ferozepur Road in between the two sides of the flyover has been set aside for the Lahore Rapid Mass Transport System. Khan said minor repairs would be undertaken to beautify the space, though proper renovation would be carried out later and was not the responsibility of Kalma Chowk flyover project team.

The service lanes, he said, would be revamped after the construction of the underpass.

A National Logistic Cell (NLC) engineer said some decoration work would be completed after the August 14 deadline.

“We have been directed to ensure that nothing in the basic structure is left incomplete as of August 14. The flyover has to be opened for traffic for the project to be considered a success,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2011.

Chinese firm to run 2,000 CNG buses in Sindh & Punjab

2011-08-05T01:05:00.000-07:00

Let's hope ........... this may become reality

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Chinese bus manufacturing company Foton Motors will sign a deal with the Sindh government tomorrow (Saturday) to operate 2,000 CNG buses on the roads of the province.

This was informed during a between the President Asif Ali Zardari and a delegation of Foton Motors Group.

The president said that it is a matter of great pleasure that the potential of traditional Pak-China trade was now being translated into economic terms and that Chinese investors were taking keen interest in exploring business opportunities in Pakistan.

The company has designed modern buses for Pakistan to meet specific cultural and demographic needs of the country with environment friendly fuels such as CNG, LPG and hybrid diesel and hydrogen fuel cells.

The president said that the aim is to transform Pakistan into one of the most attractive investment destinations and provide all possible facilitation for promotion of business ventures.

He said there was an urgent need for upgrading the existing transport network in the mega cities which in turn offers great investment opportunities to the national and international investors.

Earlier in the day, Foton Transport Company Beijing entered an agreement to provide 111 CNG buses to Lahore Transport Company within the next few months, according to board of investment.

The board of investment is negotiating with various companies for provision of reliable transport facility in the country, said chairman Saleem H Mandviwalla on Thursday while talking to a delegation of bus company Foton China.

The chairman added that the government was encouraging investment in the country’s transport sector.

Around 200 to 300 CNG/LPG buses have already started operating city to city and inter-city within Sialkot following an agreement with the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Vice President of Foton Group ye Zhaoyou, said that the key to Foton’s success was quality and dedication towards their products, adding Foton was a name associated with commitment and perseverance, known worldwide for their traditional quality and excellence of products.

Foton is a commercial vehicle manufacturer ranked number one in Asia and second globally, according to the company’s website. Foton is investing in the automobile and transport sector of Pakistan, Mass Transit System in major cities and assembly line for cars, light/medium and heavy duty trucks as there is a huge potential market available in Pakistan.

with additional input by APP

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2011.

The Collapse of Urban Transport in Pakistan

2011-08-04T00:23:00.001-07:00

Here is the article I just wrote for SSPECTATOR ..... www.sspectator.com ........

It was sometime in the beginning of 1990s when we used to go to school on buses and I still remember that plenty of thoseVolvo buses were on the road. I used to hear from my father about other wonderful services like Omni bus and similar services in theLahore city but the fall of all such basic transport started in the beginning of 1990s.

The last time I sat in a Volvo school bus was sometime in 1990 or 1991. Then suddenly the system started vanishing and the wagon mafia took over slowly and replaced all the buses. It was indeed no less than a pain when you were forced to travel on these wagons and it was like being a chicken in the cage when all the seats were occupied. It was really a miserable time for commuters of this mega city who had no other option except travelling on these terrible means of transportation.

The Shahbaz Sharif government, during 1997-1999, had always claimed of planning a mass transit for the city but it was all just paper work and could never materialize. During this tenure, he made an agreement with the Korean bus company, Daewoo, to bring in better transportation which agreed to deploy more than 300 buses in the first phase and then increasing the number up to one thousand with time. The company’s buses were tax exempted but unfortunately, by the time it was able to bring only 50 buses, the Musharraf led coup ousted the Sharif’s government. Daewoo hardly managed to bring in only 20 more buses however to-date it was indeed the most modern air-conditioned intra-city bus service in the history of city’s transport service. I do remember how excited I was to get the ride of this bus when I saw the first one running on the roads.

The change in government was a blow to the urban transport projects as usually is the fate of all such projects in such a switch, and due to the lack of support and interest by the government of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, these buses started to vanish from the road. Meanwhile, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as a typical Pakistani politician was looking for a project in which he could to get all credit, so he got the idea of Lahore Mass Transit System from Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project feasibility was carried out by M/s MVAASIA (Pvt.) Ltd., and it was expected that work on this great project may start in the mid of 2007. But time passed by, and the delay was attributed to some money and design constraints. All this time, the urban city bus project kept deteriorating and no attention was given to it.

It was during this time, when Karachi’s Circular Railway project was revived with the idea of bringing better transport facilities to the city. Though Karachi had much better transport system as compared to Lahore, which comprised of large and mini buses, but still they were not up to the mark and were also not as per the demand of such a large city.

In 2008, Shahbaz Sharif got another chance by becoming Chief Minister of Punjab for the second time and it was then speculated among the fans of the Lahore Mass Transit Project that it will certainly be shelved as it was labeled as the Pervaiz Elahi’s project. It became apparent that Shahbaz Sharif will not accommodate the Lahore Mass Transit Project (LRMTS) as he initiated the Elevated Expressway Project which goes all along the Ferozpur Road. Most of the fans like me started to campaign against the Elevated Expressway through different means, such as I did it through my blog which is all about Lahore Mass Transit Project. I also came to know that ADB pressurized Shahbaz Sharif not to abandon the LRMTS Project as the Punjab government has already spent millions on the feasibility and the detailed design of the project.

Karachi Circular Railway meanwhile was also in the last stage of its design and JICA(Japan International Cooperation Association) was all ready to build the project with full funding. But the same unfortunate story of political interests brought the same fate of such mega projects in our country to Karachi Circular Railway, the project also went in doldrums. Now looking into the present condition of Karachi, I do not think the project can be materialized any time in the near future.

A recent news flash grabbed my attention once again when I heard that Shahbaz Sharif is negotiating with a Chinese company for the construction of Lahore Mass Transit System. At first, I thought it is again another point scoring move by this Chief Minister, but later came the news of signing of an MOU with a Chinese firm named M/S Norinco International and that the construction is scheduled to begin on August 14, 2011. Indeed, that is some big news to the hopeless commuters of this mega city, however, whether Shahbaz Sharif is really willing to build the mass transit system or is it just another political propaganda for personal glory remains to be seen.

MoU Signed between the Punjab Government and NORINCO

2011-07-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

LAHORE: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Punjab government and Chinese international company NORINCO regarding Lahore mass transit project.

Under the agreement, a 27km long railway track will be laid from Gaju Matta on Ferozpur Road to Shahdara of which 7km long portion will be underground.Chairman Lahore Transport Company Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan and Vice President NORINCO Zhang Shipping signed the document on behalf of Punjab government and China respectively.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Member Provincial Assembly Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmad, high-ups of Lahore Transport Company and representatives of NORINCO were also present on the occasion.Talking to media on the occasion, the Chief Minister welcomed the agreement for Lahore mass transit project with Chinese state company NORINCO and said that soft opening of the project will be made on 14th August 2011.

He said that it is a unique project as the Chinese company by announcing that it will not take even a single penny as profit proved that China is a true and sincere friend of Pakistan. Moreover, the project will be an invaluable gift by the Chinese government for the people of Lahore, the Punjab as well as the whole country.

Furthermore, he said that there are deep-rooted relations between China and Pakistan and Pak-China friendship is higher than Himalayas, deeper than oceans and sweeter than honey. Also, China has stood by Pakistan in every hour of need and helped Pakistan wholeheartedly. Moving on, he said that friendship between the two countries is also reflected in the agreement signed with Chinese company NORINCO regarding Lahore mass transit project.

He also informed them that NORINCO is a renowned Chinese company which has executed numerous projects of human development and prosperity and also set up metro systems. Besides this, thousands of people are benefiting from the mass transit projects executed by the company in Beijing, Shanghai and Tehran.

The completion of Lahore mass transit project will not only provide modern transport facilities to the people of provincial metropolis but of the whole country and the project will be completed by working round-the-clock. In addition to that, a number of agreements were signed between Punjab government and China for cooperation in various sectors during his visit to China which include the glorious project of Lahore mass transit.

Replying to the questions of media, he said that politicians and rulers have not come up to the expectations of the masses during the 63 years history of the country. While the elite have all the facilities at their doorstep, the poor and the common man are deprived of even basic amenities. Also, the Punjab government has diverted resources to the welfare of the people and all available funds are being utilized in a transparent manner on the provision of basic facilities to the people.

Mr. Sharif stated that people have elected us and we are their servants and not the rulers and every penny of public money is being spent on the betterment and uplift of the masses in a highly transparent manner.

He said that the country is facing terrorism and a number of other problems but the nation will come out of these crises and achieve the goal of national progress and prosperity.

Replying to a question about the possibility of rollback of welfare projects by the future governments, the Chief Minister said that Daanish schools, Aashiayna housing project, supply of free medicines and mobile health units are such welfare-oriented projects of Punjab government which no one can rollback and if anyone tried to do so he will taken to task by the masses.

Vice President NORINCO, Zhang Shipping while speaking on the occasion, said that Pakistan and China are bound together in unswerving ties of friendship and Lahore mass transit project will usher in a new era of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Also, the project will reflect Pak-China friendship and NORINCO will not take any profit from the project. The Chinese bank Exim will provide loan for the project. He said that he had held talks with Lahore Transport Company and other departments during last two weeks and has excellent working relationship with them.

He said that Mr. Sharif has taken personal interest in the project which will result in provision of modern transport facilities to the masses and that the Lahore mass transit project will be completed in four years and Chinese company will also provide technology to Punjab in this regard.

In addition to this, the Lahore mass transit project is a precious gift by China for the people of Punjab which is being initiated as a result of lengthy negotiations with the dynamic and dignified leadership of Punjab.Earlier, Vice President NORINCO and his delegation gave a briefing regarding Lahore mass transit project and highlighted its various aspects.

Finally Comes the News - LRMTS Inauguration 14th of August - 2011

2011-07-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

What else to say ............ Its more like dream comes true ........ I hope things goes smooth now and the government too

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LRMT MoU signed

Construction work on the Lahore Mass Transit Train project will begin on August 14, Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Punjab government and a Chinese company, NORINCO, in this regard on Friday. Of the 27-kilometre (km) railway track from Gajju Matta on Ferozepur Road to Shahdara, about 7 km will be underground.

Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan, the Lahore Transport Company (LTC) chairperson signed the agreement on behalf of the city government. The chief minister and MPA Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmad were also present.

The chief minister said that a feasibility report for the project had put the cost at $2.4 billion.

However, it will now be completed at a cost of $1.7 billion after the Chinese company agreed to forgo profit.

Zhang Shiping, the Norinco vice president, reiterated that the company will not profit from the project.

He also said that Chinese Ex Im bank will provide a foreign exchange loan for the project. Shiping said that the project will be completed in four years for which technology will be provided to the Punjab government.

Fly- Over

A section of the Kalma Chowk flyover will be completed by July 25, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced on Friday. He said the remaining part too will be completed by August 14, making it the fastest structure of the kind to have been completed in the country.

Project Director Sabir Khan, however, said he was only committed to the August 14 deadline for the project when the project was scheduled to be inaugurated by the chief minister.

Pressed on the July 25 completion date mentioned by the chief minister while talking to the media, he said while the structure had been completed, ‘finishing touches’ remained to be applied. This, he said, included surfacing of the pavement, lane markings, installation of reflectors and placement of flower pots etc. “By August 14, we will have finished not only these things but also completed the other section.”

He said 50 per cent of the deck slabs were already in place on the second section.

He said neither the chief minister nor anybody from the CM Secretariat had taken him into confidence about bringing forward the deadline.

A senior Transport Department official, seeking anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the subject, told The Express Tribune the northen section would be completed by July 25 and the southern section by August 8. He said the practice so far had been to open such projects for traffic as soon as they were complete without waiting for any ceremony.

LTC representative meets LRMTS contracting Chinese Team

2011-07-09T03:48:00.000-07:00

Just meeting and discussion .......... no confirm date of the start of the project

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Kalma Chowk: Underpass on Hold over Mass Transit Concerns

2011-06-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

Indeed a very wise decision ......... this shows that Punjab Government is sincere about Lahore Mass Transit Project

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The government has decided to put a hold on work on an underpass at Kalma Chowk amidst concerns about funding and the design of the project, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the construction of a flyover on Ferozepur Road and an underpass connecting Gulberg and Garden Town at Kalma Chowk in March and directed the officials concerned to complete the project by August 14.

While work on the flyover is continuing, the underpass project has not started yet. Officials said that this was because of a lack of funds and concerns from the Chinese company due to build the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System that the underpass would interfere with its plans to build infrastructure for a city metro.

Communication and Works chief engineer Munawwar Bashir said the original plan to complete construction during the summer had had to be shelved. “We realised that the underpass project would be disrupted by the monsoon,” he said.

“I cannot say when construction of the underpass will begin exactly,” he said. Asked how much the project would cost, he said that this had not been calculated yet.

A source said that the Chinese company had also objected to the flyover design, but Bashir denied this, saying that the flyover design left sufficient space for an underground train.

A Planning and Development official told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that lack of funds was a concern, but the LRMTS was the main problem. He said that at the start of the flyover project, Planning and Development officials had warned Sharif that it would leave no money for other development projects, including the underpass.

He said that the company in charge of the LRMTS project had not decided yet whether the train would cross the Kalma Chowk junction under the ground or on elevated tracks, but earlier studies had suggested that building an underground tunnel was the best option. But an underpass at Kalma Chowk would scupper that option, he said.

The official said that the underpass would not be built until the Chinese company completed the feasibility study for the LRMTS project or gave the government the green light for it.

Kalma Chowk project director Sabir Khan denied that funding was an issue, but the government had not yet decided to start construction. He said that the chief minister had not been briefed about the underpass project as the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) was still preparing the feasibility report.

He said that the LRMTS project would not be affected by the underpass. “The project would only be disturbed if we used the piling technique while constructing the underpass,” he said.

Khan said Nespak would consider the train crossing when preparing its design for the underpass. He refused to give any technical details, saying that he could not comment until the design was finalised.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2011.

Lahore Metro System: Punjab govt deviates from `austerity track`

2011-05-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

This means further delay in the project ........

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LAHORE, May 22: The Lahore Metro System agreement signed between the Punjab government and a Chinese firm is costlier than the similar plan made by the previous government, say officials and technical experts.

The PML-N government had rejected the previous plan for which the Asian Development Bank had committed a soft loan of $1 billion on many `grounds`. One of them was that the modern facility in Lahore will create envy among the people of other cities in the province.

The officials and experts question whether the government has now made some arrangement under which this expected `envy` will not be generated by the metro by the Chinese firm which they claim has no experience of the subject.

The experts and the officials talked to Dawn on the condition of anonymity and raised many objections to the project.

According to them, the agreement has been signed with a single source which they allege has no experience of laying and running metro. An international competition would have given better cost and access to superior technology.

The company supposed to provide the facility has no previous experience in the field and the project is likely to end up being sub-contracted, they say.

The government is saying that the Chinese company is ready to provide a facility at the green line at a cost of $1.87 billion which look costly. The green line runs from Hamza Town, Shahdara to Kot Lakhpat via Ravi Road, Bhati Chowk, Lower Mall, The Mall, Queen`s Road, Mozang Chungi and Ferozepur Road.

The previous project for the same line was estimated to cost $2.4 billion and the estimates were made on the price index of 2006. The Punjab government was to contribute $400 million in the shape of land and removal of utilities.

The Asian Development Bank was to provide an easy $1 billion infrastructure loan, also arranging foreign investment of an equal amount for the rolling stock (system and operations).

Officials and experts say that nobody has explained what will the Chinese company doing with the announced $1.87 billion. If this cost includes civil construction, rolling stock and system operations, it is likely that the authorities at the helm of affairs are going to cut corners or make compromises on quality.

The previous government was going to pick the infrastructure cost ($1 billion from the ADB). And operations would have been fairly viable on the fare and ridership. They say that as told by the Punjab government, the Chinese company will arrange a bank loan of $1.87 billion which looks costly, accepting the loan liability much bigger than the $1 billion of the ADB. This is likely to make the financial viability highly questionable.

Under the previous arrangements, the government was not required to pay any subsidy because of the foreign investment of $1 billion for systems and operations.

Now there is an express loan of $1.87 billion without any private-sector investment for the operations and systems. Therefore, the experts and official fear the government will have to provide huge operational subsidies.

But, they say, one should keep in mind that many medium rails (metros) have failed because the operational subsidies are cumbersome and difficult to sustain. The facilities flopped in Bangkok, Manila and Kuala Lumpur due to the same reason.

Officials and experts say the redesigning of the Kalma Chowk is going to create a major problem for the metro project because it has been started without any detailed study and assessing its economic rate of return.

The metro, as per the disclosures by the government, will run underground from Ferozepur Road (near Kalma Chowk) to Ravi Road. But the redesigning would require deeper digging at Kalma Chowk and make going underground from near the General Hospital bridge, increasing the cost manifold.

Punjab Government & Transportation in the Province: A Review

2011-05-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

From Elevated Expressway to Bus Rapid Mass transit System ........... and finally back to LRMTS ....... indeed Shahbaz Sharif government lack either sincerity, or sheer lack of planning .......
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Express Tribune: May 12, 2011 - After shelving the monorail-based mass transit system, the Punjab government intends to re-open the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS).

The policy shift came after Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, was assured by the Chinese government and investors during his recent visit to China that they would invest in the LRMTS project, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Back in 2005, the Transport Department had carried out a feasibility study to develop a mass transit network in Lahore.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided Rs1 billion in July 2007 for a study for the project.

The construction was expected to start by June 2008. If all went well the civil works would be completed by the end of 2010. The 97-kilometre rail network was to be bounded in the east by Gajjumata and to the west by Shahdara station.

The Transport Department commissioned an international company, SYSTRA, to conduct the feasibility report and outline an engineering design.

The company was paid a large sum of money for this job. According to an FIR registered, officials embezzled a total of Rs400 million during this period. The project, however, was later shelved as the Punjab government said they first needed to scrutinise the corruption and only then could they analyse its reconstruction.

In the 2010-2011 financial budget, the Punjab government allocated Rs5.2 billion for the project.

However, following the historic flood and re-appropriation in its wake the project was shelved again.

In June 2010, a delegation of M/s SCOMI international, Malaysia Project Support Service Asia (PSSA) called on the chief minister and gave a presentation on the monorail-based Mass Transit System along Ferozepur Road.

The CM asked the delegation to get back to him with a detailed proposal, supported by a financial plan.

In January this year, SCOMI representatives made another presentation for the entire 97-kilometre project. It proposed an agreement on design-construct-operate-and-transfer (DCOT) basis.

They informed the CM that the project would cost $1.15 billion.

M/s COPICARD, a USA-based consortium offered to finance the project’s infrastructure. The rolling stock would be provided by SCOMI. The Project Support Service Asia would also select an operator to run the system. The project could be launched within three months, and completed in 36 months.

For its part, the consortium demanded three assurances from the Punjab government: the timely provision of land, sovereign guarantee to secure the project finance and the number of riders as projected in the feasibility study.

While addressing a press conference at the 7-Club Road, the chief minister disclosed that an agreement had been signed between the Punjab government and the Chinese government for the LRMTS project to be completed at a cost of $1.7 billion. He said that work on the mega project would begin this year and would be completed in a cost-effective manner.

Now, the Punjab government has once again changed its plans, owing to lack of efficient planning and its, failure to win the confidence of foreign investors, an official said.

The shift in policy was made without estimating its cost and repercussions on the government’s working and image. The government should hold all concerned officials responsible for this failure and take action against them, the official added.

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Incompetence of Lahore Transport Company: A Failed Organization

2011-05-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

Don't know why till now, all efforts of Shahbaz Sharif are useless to give better transport facilities to the commuters ................ They are simply not serious at all ......... strange -------- still it is giving add to attract investment in urban transport ......... Ironic
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China Eximbank to lend Pak $1.7bn for train system

2011-04-28T05:41:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: The Export-Import Bank of China will loan Pakistan $1.7 billion to develop a city-wide train system in the eastern city of Lahore, a senior Pakistani government official said on Wednesday.

The 15-year loan will be disbursed in the next five years, and negotiations with Eximbank are under way to finalise other details, Khawaja Ahmed Hassan, chairman of the Lahore Transport Company (LTC), said.

“The bank agreed to lend us the money with a two-year grace period, and our aim is to get it at six per cent interest,” he told Reuters.

The Punjab government recently agreed to award the 27 km (16.7 mile) train line contract project to the Chinese company China North Industries Corp (Norinco). In 2008, a French company had estimated the cost of the project at $2.4 billion.

The Chinese “were very kind and they brought down the cost of the project to $1.7 billion,” Hassan said.

He said the project was likely to begin by the end of 2011.

Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, Pakistan’s most populous and prosperous province, is home to more than five million people.

Officials expect the new transport system, the first of its kind in the country, will substantially decrease road traffic.

“There will be a big change. If we are able to bring here the system which we saw in China, thousands of vehicles (will) eventually go off the road,” Hafiz Nauman, a provincial lawmaker and senior member of the LTC, said.

He said another Chinese company will supply 111 buses to the city in June.

Seen as an “all-weather friend” to Pakistan, China has invested heavily in infrastructure development, particularly in the strategic and mineral-rich southwest, bordering Iran and Afghanistan.

China Three Gorges Corp, China’s largest hydropower developer, is ready to invest $15 billion in Pakistan’s troubled energy sector, an investment that could add 10,000 megawatts to Pakistan’s main grid over the next 10 years, a senior company official told Reuters in an interview on April 7.

China is a main supplier of military and defence hardware to Pakistan, and has helped the country build nuclear power plants.

Chinese Company ‘will ply 111 Buses by June 2011: LTC

2011-04-26T05:13:00.001-07:00

One hundred and eleven of the 200 buses a Chinese company has agreed to ply in Lahore will be operational by June this year, Lahore Transport Company chairman Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan said on Monday.

He said the agreements with two Chinese companies, Noranko for the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System and Foton for buses, were a milestone in provision of quality public transport in the city.

Hassaan said Noranko would invest $1.7billion in the LRMTS. In the first phase, he said, it would operate between Shahdara and Gajjumatta.

The LTC chairman formed a committee to give recommendations for dealing with the illegally-run transport including QinqQi rickshaws, mini buses and vans. The committee was given 15 days to submit its recommendations.

The committee is headed by LTC vice chairman, Mehr Ishtiaq, and includes LTC member Mohsin Lateef, GM (Enforcement) Kamran Khan, GM (Operations) Asad Rehman Gillani, GM (Finance) Adnan Muddassar and Lahore Chief Traffic Officer Syed Ahmed Mubeen. Hassaan said the LTC was committed to provide all possible assistance to transport companies so that public transport facilities in the city could be improved. He said under a transport action plan, new bus terminals and depots would soon be built in the city.

He also said there would be no compromise on standards. He said new busses would be allowed to operate only if they met the standards and specifications approved by LTC board of directors.

Hassaan said the LTC would provide assistance to overhaul 250 old busses. He said third party evaluation would ascertain the extent of repairs required for these buses

LRMTS Agreement Signed: Finally comes the Big News

2011-04-24T03:24:00.000-07:00

LAHORE – An agreement was signed between the Punjab government and China in Beijing on the Lahore Mass Transit Project to be completed at a cost of US$1.7 billion.

After the Taunsa Power Project agreement, it is the second big achievement of the delegation visiting China-led by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. LTC Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassan on behalf of the Punjab government whereas Zhang Shiping, vice president of NORINCO, an international company of China, signed the agreement.

Seven-kilometre portion of urban rail spreading over a stretch of 27-km in Lahore from Gajumata to Shahdara on Ferozepur Road would be laid underground. As much as 85 percent capital would be provided by China.

Addressing the agreement signing ceremony, Shahbaz said the project prepared with the cooperation of China would prove to be a beginning of public transport system revolution in Pakistan.

He said the economic cooperation by China with Punjab had transformed into solid agreements out of the MoUs. “Work on this project will be started during this year, and the Punjab government is ready to welcome the Chinese engineers and skilled workers for this purpose,” he added.

Flyover and Underpass on Kalma Chowk: What about LRMTS

2011-04-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

LAHORE:

The government has decided to start work on a flyover at Kalma Chowk to reduce congestion at the intersection, The Express Tribune has learnt. The authorities have also decided to build an underpass at the chowk, but don’t have the money to start the project yet.

The flyover will be a kilometre long and start and end 500 metres either side of Kalma Chowk on Ferozepur Road. The proposed underpass will run from Gulberg Main Boulevard to Garden Town Main Boulevard. The latter will also be widened to take advantage of the new underpass.

Kalma Chowk has been widened twice before, but is now regularly choked with traffic. At peak hours wardens usually switch off the traffic signals and direct traffic manually. Still, the queues of vehicles at the chowk often stretch back to the previous signal.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had asked officials a while ago to make a plan to resolve traffic issues at the chowk. At a meeting chaired by Lahore Commissioner Nadeem Hassan Asif a couple of days ago, it was decided to start work on the flyover. Ferozepur Road was previously under the city district government’s control, but was recently handed over to the Lahore Development Authority

Work on the flyover will start at once, said Israr Saeed, director of the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency. He said that work on the underpass is subject to the availability of funds. He said that an initial estimate put the cost of building the flyover and underpass at Rs2 billion.

Saeed said that the feasibility report would be completed in three months by the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (Nespak), following which it would take about a year to construct the flyover.

“The positive thing is that we don’t have to acquire any land for the project as enough land is already available,” he said.

Saeed said that the widening of Garden Town Main Boulevard would begin once the flyover and underpass are in the final stages. “Without broadening the road the underpass might not be as useful as it should be,” he said.

He said that the road would be widened from 24 feet to 36 feet. Another lane will be added along with service lanes. He said that the Barkat Market traffic signal would be removed and the next Y junction would be widened so vehicles could take a u-turn from there.

Saeed estimated that the road widening project would cost Rs275 million. It will include building benches, an overhead pedestrian bridge and new plantations. The feasibility report for this project will also be conducted by Nespak. It will take about four months to complete, he added.

Lahore Transport Company: Seems Useless Organization

2011-01-30T01:53:00.000-08:00

The plight of the Lahorites continues as the number of buses reduces .......... and what Lahore Transport Company doing ......... can guess from the following news ....

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Project of Inducting 5,000 CNG Buses in the Doldrums

2010-12-24T14:57:00.000-08:00

Here is the real picture of all the hype about CNG Buses project .............. nothing will be done to improve the lives of common man

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LAHORE (December 24, 2010) : Despite tall claims of Punjab government and allocation of one billion in the annual budget 2010-11, no visible improvement could be made in the transport system as transport companies are showing reluctance in bringing new 5,000 CNG buses in big cities including the provincial metropolis.

As many as 10 investors including seven foreigners had signed Memorandum of Understanding with Punjab government for making investment in the transport sector with the plying of new buses. However, no headway has so far been made in this regard. Lahore Transport Company Chairman Tasneem Ahmad Noorani also failed to bring any improvement despite enjoying huge perks and privileges. He finally resigned from the slot citing personal reasons.

Sources told Business Recorder the investors were showing hesitation, because they think investment unsafe, high fluctuation in fuel prices, role of transport mafia in existing system, dilapidated existing infrastructure and poor commitment on the part of concerned authorities to safeguard the interests of the investors.

Punjab government signed seven memorandums of understanding with the interested investors including one each of Iran, Glasgow, Canadian and four of Turkey to invest in different projects relates to improvement of public transport system in the province. Three local investors were also taken onboard for the purpose. All the MoUs were signed in May this year by Punjab transport and commerce and investment departments on the directions of Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, who expressed satisfaction in briefings from the officials of these companies.

The MoUs signed, were for mutual co-operation for the affairs of public transport and its ancillary issues, exchange of experiences and initiatives in the field of traffic management, Lahore fleet management and BRT system, improvement of public transport system through electronic fare collection system and fleet management, development and provision of management of intelligent transport system, consultancy/exchange of experts' services for Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System.

Foreign investors, who were scheduled to come up with solid suggestion and physical investment capital for the improvement of existing transport system in the province, failed to remain in contact with the Punjab government despite reminder letters sent by the later since signing of MoU, an official requesting anonymity said. Over the lacklustre attitude of investors it seems that MoU ceremonies were merely a photo session to depict high commitment in reducing public miseries.

The foreign investors were reluctant to go ahead for investment after visiting ground realities in the sector, prevailing circumstances and economic feasibility. The same is the story with the local investors who feared that the present transport infrastructure was hijacked by a mafia, and rapid fluctuation in fuel prices prevails, leaving no room for the new entry to regulate economically feasible profit oriented transport business.

On the other hand, the government on the proposal of Lahore Transport Company (LTC) capped subsidy Rs 1.00 million and Rs 1.20 million for diesel and CNG bus respectively to avoid over-invoicing and misuse of subsidy, an official of finance department told this scribe. The finance department allocated Rs 1 billion in annual budget 2010-11 to provide subsidy at the rate of 20 percent on total price per bus.

It may be mentioned here the previous government led by Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi conceived an idea to introduce economical and environment friendly bus service in the province to replace existing diesel and old buses in phases. The idea was not matured during his tenure and the new PML-N government announced to launch the project on war footings. Mian Shahbaz Sharif announced 25 percent subsidy on each CNG bus and a MoU to bring 300 buses till June, 2009 was signed with five investors but could no be accomplished.

The sources in the transport department said that the government had planned to import 2500 CNG buses for city and 2500 for rest of the province to be used as public transport within two year starting from January, 2009. The government intends to import separately 5,000 CNG buses for free pick and drop of poor students studying in public sector schools during 2009-10 the sources further said.

To materialise this plan Punjab government established Lahore Transport Company and a hired the services of a retired bureaucrat Tasneem Noorani while offering Management Professional scale-I (MP-I) as chairman in April 2009. Earlier Noorani served as chairperson Task Force on Public Transport System from June 2008 to April 2009 but he badly failed to materialize the plan.

A sum of Rs 35 billion were calculated to be provided as subsidy on all the buses. The investors brought only 31 buses till June 2009. Later, over a tussle between the LTC and transport department, the investors who signed MoU to bring buses refused to invest more from pockets to bring CNG buses with the observation that regulatory mechanism of transport in the city was grabbed by a mafia.

Meanwhile, the transport department signed a MoU with a Chinese company for the import of 2000 buses in the province when the local investors refused to import more buses. The MoU was revoked with the observations that it was not in public interest and the government offered 15 percent subsidy on CNG buses instead of 25 already announced by the government.

The chief minister Mian Shabaz Sharif has transferred and posted four secretaries in transport department since April, 2008 which was the highest number of heads transferred in any department. Aga Nadeem was replaced by Maroof Afzal, then Hashim Khan Tareen, Shahzad Cheema and now Muhammad Yousif the sitting incumbent. Later in 2010, it was decided to bring 300 diesel buses for public transport as an interim arrangement for one time to mitigate the miseries of commuters in the city. To bring these buses, chairperson LTC started negotiations with the local and foreign investors to bring these buses because the project of CNG buses may be further delayed.

Private Investors invited to Run Trains

2010-12-16T05:23:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways under its Open Track Access Policy (OTAP) is allowing private parties to use its track for running of oil, freight and passenger trains. The Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF), the ministry of finance and the ministry of railways arranged an investor conference regarding the running of private trains using Pakistan Railways tracks, said a press release on Wednesday.
The press release informed that Pakistan Railways wants to launch trains through public-private partnerships between Karachi and various upcountry stations like Lahore, Piranghaib (near Multan), Lal Pir, Daudkhail, and etcetera.
The OTAP aims to attract investment from the private sector and use Pakistan Railways’ capacity to allow optimum usage of its infrastructure. Private operators will be allowed to invest and operate trains utilising the existing track and infrastructure for a fixed tenure by paying Pakistan Railways the predetermined track access charges.
The project will facilitate trade and is expected to inject up to Rs3 billion annually in Pakistan Railways. Pakistan Railways Chairman Shahid Hassan Raja stated that the existing state of affairs cannot continue and the only option is to work with the private sector so that Pakistan Railways can become a commercially viable entity.

CM flies to Abu Dhabi to Convince Investors

2010-12-10T16:37:00.000-08:00

This means revival of Mubarak Center Project which indeed shall be the identity of lahore ........ Hopes for successful outcomes ............

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LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will fly to Abu Dhabi today (Saturday) to meet UAE’s Minister of Higher Education Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan. He will call for resumption of Mubarak Group’s investment in Punjab, informed sources told Daily Times on Friday.

The main focus of the chief minister’s visit to Abu Dhabi is to convince Sheikh Nahayan Mubarak to restart the Mubarak Group’s projects in the province, which, the group had abandoned following a change in provincial government and the incumbent chief minister’s policy of shelving the projects launched by his predecessor Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

The sources said the Mubarak Group had shelved its investment plans, including a multi-million dollar Mubarak Centre at Ferozpur Road, a media house and an English language daily newspaper, due to the provincial government’s reluctance to go ahead with plans launched by foreign incumbents and the PML-Q government. The group had abandoned the proposed Mubarak Centre, which would have been one of the biggest information technology centre in the country upon its completion, after digging about 40 feet deep at the multi-acre land, on which it was to be built, at the Ferozpur Road.

During his visit, Shahbaz will try to urge and convince the UAE investors, particularly the Mubarak Group to relaunch their projects in Punjab, which badly needs foreign investment.

Lahore Metro (LRMTS) plans in the Offing

2010-12-10T16:36:00.001-08:00

All Eyes towards the successful outcome of these talks .

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AMEInfo reported that the Pakistan government is planning to have the Metro system in Lahore similar to the one in Dubai.

A diplomat at the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi said that Mr Shahbaz Sharif CM of Punjab province in Pakistan who is leading a top level business delegation to Dubai in December to attract investors to Punjab, will talk to the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority for possible partnership on the Metro project.
The diplomat said that Mr Sharif will meet the RTA official and visit the Dubai Metro as he is interested in having a similar Metro system in Lahore, which is facing acute traffic congestion.
Mr Abdul Mohsin Ebrahim Younus CEO of Strategy and Corporate Governance at the RTA confirmed that the upcoming meeting with the Pakistani delegation and said the RTA was fully capable to provide its expertise to carry out such projects in Pakistan following international practices.

Punjab Chief Minister, Korean Envoy discuss Cooperation

2010-12-07T17:13:00.001-08:00

LAHORE (December 07, 2010) : Korean Ambassador in Pakistan Choongjoo Choi met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday and co-operation in various sectors as well as matters of mutual interests was discussed. Chairman Solid Waste Management Company Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan, Vice Chairman Punjab Investment Board Rizwan Ahmad Khan, Chairman Planning and Development and Secretaries of Transport and Commerce were also present on the occasion, disclosed an official.

Talking to the Korean Ambassador, the Chief Minister said Pakistan and Korea have longstanding trade and economic relations, however, there is need to further strengthen these ties. He said that there are vast opportunities of investment and co-operation between Korea and Punjab in various sectors. "Korean company Daewoo had completed Motorway project in Punjab and Daewoo Bus Service is providing efficient transport facilities to the people of the province.

Another Korean company has expressed interest in Rapid Transit Project (BRTS not LRMTS) in Lahore. The provincial government is taking solid measure for the provision of modern transport facilities to the people. Northern loop of Ring Road has been completed in a highly transparent manner in the provincial metropolis, which is a masterpiece of construction. Now work on southern loop will be initiated," he added.

He said Korea can extend co-operation in the construction of southern loop of Ring Road as well as other projects of infrastructure. He said there is a vast scope of co-operation in livestock, agriculture, real estate, solid waste management and other sectors in Punjab and Korea should consider co-operation in these sectors. "Punjab has also large iron reserves while Korea, which has expertise in steel industry, can extend co-operation in producing steel. Korea has made rapid progress by adopting modern technology and Pakistan can also achieve its development targets by adopting latest technology.

The government is implementing a comprehensive programme for the elimination of poverty and unemployment and revolutionary measures have been taken for this purpose," he added. Korean Ambassador Choongjoo Choi while speaking on the occasion highly appreciated the measures taken by the Chief Minister Punjab for the development of the province.

Grim Situation of Urban Transport in Lahore

2010-12-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

Contrary to all the tall claims of the Punjab Government of doing so much for the welfare of the people ................. planning and spending on so much on improving the transport facilities of Lahore .............. see what the daily commuters say in the following survey .......... Ironic

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City to have High Quality Bus Terminals

2010-12-05T16:20:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that high quality bus terminals will be constructed here at Shahdarah, Ferozpur Road and Thokar Niaz Beg.

Presiding over a high level meeting with regard to construction of bus terminals here Sunday, he said that the construction of ring road had provided ease to the commuters arriving Lahore by their personal vehicles as well as people travelling inside the city from one corner to the other but the problems for the intercity transport were still existed.

He said that on assuming the office of Chief Minister, he had directed to shift the Bus Stand from Badami Bagh and the work was in progress on this project.

He directed that better facilities including cleanliness should be provided to the passengers on priority basis till the shifting of bus stand from Badami Bagh.

He said that the proposed bus terminals should be constructed keeping in view the future demands with modern facilities for the passengers.

He said that new bus terminals should be constructed under public-private partnership having facilities like waiting rooms, best hotels, markets and indoor games.

Chairman P&D Javed Aslam informed that 242 kanal land at Thokar Niaz Beg and 462 kanal land at Ferozepur Road have been identified for construction of bus terminals.

The Chief Minister directed Chairman P&D to visit Shahdarh along with MNA Malik Riaz and identify the land for the proposed bus terminal by Monday.

He said that after completing the process of identification of land for the construction of new bus terminals at Shahdarah, Ferozepur Road and Thokar Niaz Beg, the work on their designs and other matters should be started.

Chinese Train Breaks Record

2010-12-04T16:56:00.000-08:00

BEIJING: A Chinese passenger train hit a record speed of 486 kilometres per hour during a test run of a yet-to-be opened link between Beijing and Shanghai

The Xinhua News Agency said it was the fastest speed recorded by an unmodified conventional commercial train. Other types of trains in other countries have travelled faster.

A specially modified French TGV train reached 357.2 mph (574.8 kph) during a 2007 test, while a Japanese magnetically levitated train sped to 361 mph (581 kph) in 2003.

State television footage showed the sleek white train whipping past green farm fields in eastern China. It reached the top speed on a segment of the 824-mile (1,318-kilometre) -long line between Zaozhuang city in Shandong province and Bengbu city in Anhui province, Xinhua said.

The line is due to open in 2012 and will halve the current travel time between the capital Beijing and Shanghai to five hours.
The project costs $32.5 billion and is part of a massive government effort to link many of China’s cities by high-speed rail and reduce overcrowding on heavily used lines.

China already has the world’s longest high-speed rail network, and it plans to cover 8,125 miles (13,000 kilometres) by 2012 and 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometres) by 2020.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/03/china.high.speed.train/index.html

Govt Eyes 800 Environment Friendly CNG Buses

2010-11-26T16:32:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Plying of 800 CNG buses in Pakistan is under process that will help to provide improved and environment healthy transportation facilities. Government is committed to adopt clean energy system of transportation in Pakistan.

Federal Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi stated this while talking to Ambassador of Argentine Rodolfo J Martine-Saravia who called on him at his office.

Afridi appreciated the cooperation of Argentine in different walks of life and said that mutual cooperation would be further expanded between the two countries. He also mentioned recent advancements in various segments relating to environmental up gradation and expressed his endeavor to make all efforts fruitful for green growth.

Martine-Saravia discussed matters pertaining to mutual interest with the minister and assured that Argentine would extend every possible assistance for environmental betterment efforts.

Afridi said every possibility was being explored to meet crunch in the country besides promoting alternative energy with active participation of public sector

PR Invites South Korean Railways to Operate its Five Trains

2010-11-23T17:12:00.000-08:00

LAHORE (November 23, 2010) : Pakistan Railways has invited South Korean Railways to operate its five trains on various routes that are running in deficit, General Manager Operations, Ishfaq Khataq told media here at the PR Headquarters on Monday.

He said South Korean Railway experts have agreed to train Pakistan railway staff and help restore infrastructure of the under-utilised railway network.

Earlier, South Korean railway delegation met with PR officials at the Railways headquarters and discussed various proposals to bring improvement in Pakistan Railways. Khataq said that Pakistan Railways needs at least 200 locomotives as early as possible to resume its normal operations and play its vital role in the economic development of the nation.

South Korea has offered us six locomotives of 3000 horsepower capacity, which is quiet insufficient, he added. After checking their performance we will precede further to upgrade our system GM further added. He said Pakistan railways has offered the South Korean Railways to run its trains on five routes with open access policy. South Korean trains will operate on Lahore-Faisalabad, Lahore-Gujarat-Gujranwala, Lahore-Kasur and Wagha routes. He said that delegation would soon send feasibility report regarding trains operation.

Punjab Government vs Korean Company on Bus Rapid Transit Project

2010-11-23T15:51:00.000-08:00

So here comes the first rift between the Punjab Government & the Korean Company ............. this really helps in delaying the projects .......... keep it up

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8,000 CNG buses to be launched soon'

2010-11-20T18:10:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD (November 20, 2010) : As many as 8,000 environment friendly CNG buses will be launched in major cities of the country under Shaheed Benazir Bhutto CNG Bus Project. An amount of Rs 300 million has been transferred to the State Bank of Pakistan for implementation of this project in Karachi during its initial phase of implementation, an official source informed.

Under the project being executed under Ministry of Environment, 225 buses will be launched for Karachi city to overcome the transport problems faced by the citizens. The bus service will later be introduced in Multan, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Gujranwala and twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the official added. A subsidy of Rs 300,000 will be given to those investors who would buy more than 25 CNG buses.

2,000 CNG Buses to be Imported from Argentina soon

2010-11-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

The Environment Protection Department, Punjab (EPD), in a bid to bring down the environmental pollution, especially emissions in the air, has started negotiations with an Argentinean company for providing CNG buses as well as other technologies in near future.

The EPD officials said the company GNC Galileo, Argentina, has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Environment. Under this project, 2000 CNG buses for public transport in 10 major cities of the country will be provided while CNG Bus Refueling Stations will also be established to provide the required basic on clean fuels such as CNG.

On Thursday, Sajjad Saleem Hotiana, Secretary EPD Punjab, held a meeting with Rodolfo Martin Saravia, Argentinean Ambassador, regarding the use and promotion of CNG in buses & other vehicles and establishment of Bus Refueling Stations in Punjab. Osvaldo Claudio Del Campo, CEO, GNC Galileo, Syed Ahmed Masood, Managing Director, ACE Energy and other senior officers of the Environment Protection Department, also attended the meeting.

Rodolfo Martin Saravia, Argentinean Ambassador, highlighted the commitment of the Government of Argentina to the Government of Pakistan’s major initiative towards environmental protection, especially air emissions control in the major cities of the Pakistan through promoting Mass Transit for the convenience of public transport operation.

The Secretary EPD, Punjab, informed the delegation that the Punjab Government was very much committed to the use of clean fuels in the transport sector and the Environment Department had always promoted the use of CNG in vehicles to improve the environment. He said induction of 2-stroke engine rickshaws had been banned in the Punjab w.e.f. 01.01.2005 and 4-stroke engine CNG rickshaws have been introduced. The Transport Department is planning to replace old diesel engine buses with the CNG engine and Euro-2 standard engine buses.

Bus Rapid Transit System to be Introduced in Lahore: Korean Firm Agreed

2010-11-12T16:23:00.000-08:00

If this project is going to be implemented ........... than certainly Lahore Mass Transit project is over ............ Ironic .......... These people throw the national interest just for the sake of their interest ..........

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So with this

CNG buses Refilling Terminals: Argentinian Company Looking forward to Investing $6 million

2010-11-10T17:03:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD (November 10, 2010) : An Argentina CNG company as shown interest to invest $6 million for setting up CNG buses refilling terminals in 10 big cities of Pakistan to help government curb the health damaging carbon emission.

At the resident of Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo J. Martin-Saravia, Chief Executive Officer, Galileo Osvldo C del Campo of CNG Galileo companies gave a brief presentation to State Minister/Chairman Board of Investment (BOI) Saleem Mandviwalla regarding the expertise of the company in installing CNG equipment for refilling cheap fuel in public transport world-wide.

CEO said the cost of Galileo CNG equipment was more than conventional CNG stations set up in Pakistan but their equipment has no match as far as safety and fuel pumping efficiency is concerned. He said that his company was doing successful business world-wide. Their refilling stations were very successful in countries like Korea, Spain and Singapore where there is no use of gas.

He further said Galileo had the capacity and expertise to transport CNG on trolleys from one point to another where gas stations were located. "Our big lorries travel 100km a day in Philippine to transport the gas", he said. Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo J Martin-Saravia said being ambassador it was his responsibility to work for boosting economic co-operation between two countries. "It is essential that Pakistan must provide level playing field and equal opportunities to local and foreign investors to allure Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)", he said.

He anticipated that industrial growth in Pakistan would gather momentum after completion of the projects like Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, Tarkmanistan-Afganistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and Thar Coal Gasification Project. During discussions, Chairman BOI briefed the visiting CEO that economic co-ordination committee (ECC) was the highest forum which authorise the allocation of gas quota to a particular sector. Under the directive of Cabinet Committee, ECC was dealing with the gas management.

He further said due to gas deficit, government had put ban on issuance of new CNG station licences. Balochistan was an exception as the province has a few gas stations. He said the transporting CNG would be a unique technology in Pakistan. He also suggested the CEO to move a summary to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources for ECC approval. Managing Director of ACE Energy (Pvt) Ltd Syed Ahmed Masood was also present at the occasion. He said investors anticipated that new CNG policy to be announced shortly would remove the bottlenecks for fresh investment in gas sector.

Wake Up Call for Lahore transport Company - Ironic

2010-11-10T15:39:00.000-08:00

How long this LTC will take to bring in the bused ........... it now more than two years of this organization working ............ Regrettable

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Train Service started in Makkah & Medina

2010-11-06T20:19:00.000-07:00

Hajj becomes easier ........ much needed project in Makkah and Madina

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Steps for 400 Buses soon in Lahore: LTC

2010-11-05T09:45:00.001-07:00

I wish we can see these buses on the road in this government tenure.

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November 05, 2010: ARRANGMENTS have been finalised by the Lahore Transport Company for the provision of 400 new buses in the City.

Addressing a meeting, according to a press release, Chairman LTC Tasneem Noorani said a mechanism has been evolved to provide transport related infrastructure in Lahore including a system of enforcement, modern bus depot and terminals, vehicle inspection centres and driving schools.

The moot was held to review the project of new buses in Lahore. Director Premier Transport Company Noor-ud-Din Ahmed, GM Enforcement LTC Fawad Qureshi, GM Finance Adnan Mudassar, Media Advisor Amjad Hussain and Senior Manager Operation Tanweer Siddiqui were also present there.

The chairman said that 400 new bus shelters would be set up in the City. He said these shelters would be lighted up with solar power.

He said that 11 bus shelters have already been set up on Ferozepur Road.

He added that a modern vehicle inspection centre would be set up in Kot Lakhpat, which would ensure fitness of public transport vehicles in the City. Tasneem Noorani said that seven new bus depots would be constructed in the City. During first phase, four bus depots are being constructed at railway stations, general bus stands, Thokar Niaz Baig and Kahna in one year.

He said that the Premier Transport Company would provide 200 new buses. He said that the government would provide operational and upfront subsidy to CNG and diesel buses in Lahore. He said that LTC would ensure frequency of buses on bus stops operating under the auspices of private sector. Premier Bus Company Director Noor-ud-Din Ahmed has said that we will provide standardized and affordable transport to the people.

DHA City to include Mass Transit System

2010-10-29T06:29:00.001-07:00

The Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Shahid Iqbal has directed the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to get its under-development DHA City project on Super Highway included in the loop of Mass Transit System (MTS) in order to substantially reduce the traveling time from DHA City to metropolis.

The Corps Commander gave these directions while chairing a special meeting of the DHA Karachi’s Executive Board here at Headquarters Corps 5 held the other day to approve the DHA’s development budget for fiscal year 2010-11.

The Executive Board meeting approved a development strategy for DHA to ensure speedy and substantial infrastructure development of the Defence Authority’s phase-VIII and other ongoing development works in DHA. Early completion of DHA City Karachi project within the stipulated timeline was also an important feature of the envisaged strategy.

Corps Commander at the meeting stressed on the need to revive the Hospital project in DHA Phase-VIII for provision of a top-of-the-line medical facility and subsequently the establishment of a medical College for the welfare and wellbeing of the DHA’s residents and citizens of Karachi.

Director Finance DHA informed the meeting that a record amount of Rs 4.3 billion, including Rs. 2.6 billion for Phase-VIII development has been earmarked in the budget for undertaking multifaceted development works in the Housing Authority.

A sum of Rs 1.25 billion has been separately earmarked for master planning and other development works of DHA City Karachi for this year.

The Board was further informed that recovery of refurbishment charges from the DHA residents was must to ensure speedy and uninterrupted development of DHA Phase-VIII as per the stipulated schedule.

News about Lahore Mass Transit in Hasb-e-Haal: Ironic

2010-10-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

Truth about LRMTS discussed in Hasb-e-Haal ......... Ironic

http://www.dunyanews.tv/play_program_video_eng.php?id=13796&pid=3330

‘Affordable Transport facilities needed for Karachi City’

2010-10-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

Urban planners and experts stressed on the need for providing respectable and affordable public transport and mass transit facilities to people in Karachi on the pattern of modern cities all across the world.

The experts shared this opinion in a seminar ‘Transport Sector and Land Management in Karachi’, organised by the NGO Shehri-CBE in collaboration with Friedrich Naumann Foundation, here at a local hotel on Friday.

People from different walks of life including policymakers, government functionaries, Mass Transit Cell authorities and public transport representatives attended the seminar to discuss the issues and possible solutions for providing better commuting facilities to the citizens in future.

An impressive presentation was given by Managing Director Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC), Ijaz Khilji, who told the participants that the 44-kilometers long Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) is expected to be revived by 2014.

“The project will be completed with a cost of 1553 million US dollars, most of which would be provided by the JICA. The project would provide transport facilities to 0.6 million to nearly 2 million people per day,” he informed.

Khilji said that some studies for the revival of KCR are underway while most of them have already been completed with the help of international agencies. “Upon its completion, the project would provide respectable and affordable traveling facilities to people within the city,” he said.

“Around 5500 households would be resettled from 28 localities that are established on railway lands. Every affected family would be provided Rs. 50000 and an 80 yards plot for resettlement. After the completion of the project, KUTC will become a regulatory body like NEPRA and it would have a committee to decide the fares that would be compatible to the existing public transport fares,” he informed.

Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) Chairman Irshad Hussain Bukhari mainly discussed the issues faced by transporters in Karachi. “Despite rampant corruption, torture, burning of busses on almost daily basis and killings of drivers’/conductors, transporters are providing affordable transportation facilities to people,” he said.

He acknowledged that there were issues including poor condition of buses and attitude of transport operators. “There is no leasing facility available for the transporters to bring new vehicles on the roads nor is there any facility of providing training to drivers and conductors,” he explained.

Bukhari said that corruption was rampant in traffic police and other departments associated with the transport sector. He suggested for the revival of magistrate system in the transport sector so that drivers who violate traffic laws could be sent to jails for the offences committed by them.

He also called for reopening of the drivers’ training school located at Manghopir so that drivers and conductors could be provided mandatory one-month training before coming onto the roads.

Bukhari also called for provision of loans from commercial banks to transporters so that they could bring CNG busses on roads and also suggested that government should provide them the depots of defunct KTC on rent to resolve parking issues.

EDO Transport of City District Government Karachi (CDGK) Iftikhar Qaimkhani called for an integrated mass transit system in the city. “There are 2.2 million vehicles plying on city roads, of which only 5 per cent were public transport vehicles that cater to the needs of 70 per cent population. Private vehicles especially cars and motorcycles form the major portion of vehicles plying on the roads but they only cater to the transportation needs of 30 per cent people in the city,” he said.

Qaimkhani also discussed the issue of inter-city busses including bus terminals for these vehicles as well CNG buses. “Without having an integrated mass transit system comprising of Bus Rapid Transit, Light Rail Transit and KCR, transportation issues in Karachi cannot be redressed,” he said.

Urban planner and member of Shehri-CBE, Farhan Anwar and General Secretary Shehri-CBE, Amber Alibhai, also spoke on the occasion. The seminar was followed by a question-answer session in which participants raised several questions regarding the present and future transport strategies and issues in the city.

Canadian Company Bombardier Discusses LRMTS with CM Punjab

2010-10-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

A delegation of a Canadian company, Bombardier, met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Wednesday and discussed matters regarding the improvement of transport system, Lahore Mass Rapid Transit System and devastations of flood.

Provincial Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Chief Secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa, Chairman Planning & Development Javed Aslam, Secretary Finance Tariq Bajwa and Kh. Ahmad Hassan were also present. Talking to the delegation, the chief minister said that the provision of quality, comfortable and best transport facilities to the people was the top priority of the government and solid steps were being taken for the purpose. He said that Mass Rapid Transit System was planned in 1998 and a lot of work had been carried out on the project. Unfortunately, the project was deferred after the democratic was toppled on October 12, 1999.

He said that the Punjab government was serious about the project and it had discussed the matter with various companies. Unfortunately, Pakistan was facing devastations of the worst kind of flood of its history which had ruined the country’s economy. He said that Metro Train was being run successfully in China, Tehran and Mashhad.

Transportation Division of Bombardier president Mikkelsen said that Lahore was a beautiful city and he had reviewed its transport system.

The delegation included Senior Director Business Division (British) Thomas Townson and Senior Vice President (Asia Pacific - British) David Allen. .

Karachi Transport Master Plan: JICA presents Progress Report to Technical Body

2010-10-06T17:49:00.001-07:00

KARACHI (October 07 2010): Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) has completed surveys in 18 towns of Karachi under the first ever 'Transport Master Plan' of the city. About 40,000 residents from 18 towns and six cantonment boards participated in the survey. According to sources, the Japanese team, which has been working on the master plan for the last one year, presented its progress report to the technical committee of Sindh Government on Wednesday.

The report was presented by Minoru Shibuya, Japanese team's head in a meeting of the committee, headed by Managing Director Karachi Mass Transit Cell Malik Zaheer. The meeting was attended by experts and officials of various departments including Finance Department, Planning and Development, Civil Aviation, KPT, Port Qasim, DHA, Military Land Cantonments, Traffic Police, Population Department, Pakistan Railways, and City District Government Karachi (CDGK).

The representatives of the departments hailed the work and progress of the JICA team. The study under 'Transport Improvement Project' would be completed within two years, which would be the first tranport-related master plan of any city of the country.

Sources said the study, would facilitate the preparation of 'Karachi Transport Master Plan 2030'. Besides, it would validate the transport project identified in the Karachi Development Strategic Plan-2020 (the transport section of Karachi Master Plan). It is worth mentioning here that for the last 62 years, no master plan of transportation has ever been prepared for any city of Pakistan and it is for the fist time that a complete planning for at least 20 years is being made for Karachi.

Single Bus Scheme will be Supported: LTC

2010-09-30T18:38:00.001-07:00

LAHORE, Sept 29: The Lahore Transport Company (LTC) has decided to recruit 100 transport enforcement inspectors (TEIs) to strengthen the regulative mechanism system for the public service transport at the provincial capital.

In a meeting of the LTC’s board of directors, headed by chairman Tasneem Ahmad Noorani, on Wednesday, officials finalised the criteria to recruit TEIs on urban routes.

“Candidates holding graduation degree will have to go through written and physical fitness tests. After recruitment, the TEIs are required to complete compulsory training at the police training school,” spokesman for LTC Amjad Husain told Dawn.

He said the BoD had approved to introduce a “Single Bus Scheme”, allowing every person having some transport-related experience to start the transport business by purchasing a new bus to get it run on city routes under LTC rules and regulations.

He said the purpose to introduce this scheme was to encourage small investors seeking initiation of transport business in a prestigious manner.

“The government will award 20 per cent subsidy to all applicants desiring to purchase buses for joining the LTC under this scheme,” he added.

Mr Husain said any person seeking entrance in the business under this scheme would have to sign a memorandum of understanding with the LTC.

“The BoD has also decided to instruct all private bus operators to get fitness certificates of their buses under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, he

London Bus of 2012

2010-09-18T09:23:00.001-07:00

Wow ........ Amazing design and fuel efficiency ...........

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11336395

Schwarzenegger Rides Bullet Train

2010-09-15T07:03:00.000-07:00

alifornia governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took a ride Tuesday on the latest model of Japan’s high-speed bullet train as his US home state looks to modernise its rail system.

The Hollywood action star is on an Asian tour with nearly 100 technology, tourism and entertainment industry leaders, in a trip aimed at boosting the state’s economic links across the Pacific.

At a busy Tokyo Station, the governor boarded the operators’ cabin of the latest Series E5 bullet train prototype — a sleek, metallic green vehicle with a massive 15-metre (50-foot) nose dubbed “arrow-line”.

He took a 60-minute round trip on the train, which has a maximum speed of 320 kilometres per hour, to Tokyo’s northern suburb of Omiya.

“Very quiet and it’s very futuristic,” said the governor. “I’m very impressed with the technology and also with the infrastructure itself.”

Japanese transport minister Seiji Maehara, who took time in the midst of his ruling party elections to welcome him at the platform, later told reporters: “Governor Schwarzenegger seemed very satisfied.”

Japan hopes it will win a contract to help California with its plan to build a high-speed rail system by 2030 expected to carry 90 million passengers a year, centred around a Los Angeles-San Francisco line.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting with the local American chamber of commerce before his “Shinkansen” train ride, the governor said: “Infrastructure, as you all know, is the most important thing when it comes to economic activities.”

“But it has to be a two-way street. We also like to help the Japanese because both of us right now are stagnant when it comes to the economy, and both can help each other,” said the former body-building champ.