Urban Transport Business on Verge of Collapse’

THE business of urban transport is on the verge of collapse due to recent abrupt increase of diesel price along other operational elements. Country General Manger Daewoo Pakistan Inam Sheikh stated that the company had been going through very serious financial crunch, and it had become unnecessary for the company management to further continue urban bus service in Lahore.

He said the company had tried its best to provide AC urban bus service to the general public and paid higher price in term of losses. He further stated that it had been observed that some other companies tried their level best to run AC bus service in Karachi and other cities but sooner or later they had closed their services due to operational losses. He stated that the Daewoo was the only urban AC bus service which was operational.

Snag-Hit Gas Station Project to Delay Arrival of CNG buses

KARACHI, July 4: A lack of progress in the city government’s project to build five gas stations has become a serious impediment in the arrival of CNG buses in the metropolis.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, in his recent budget speech, announced that the city government would bring in 500 CNG buses during the financial year 2008-09 for which Rs500 million had been allocated from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). However, it would be next to impossible for intending operators to ply the buses in the absence of filling stations as the existing filling stations are not meant for the large buses.

Under its CNG buses project, the government has promised intending operators that it will give subsidy on the mark-up and provide filling stations and depots for the CNG buses to encourage them so that they can bring in more buses to the city. But there has been no progress in the implementation of the project because of the delay in setting up the five filling stations at the defunct Karachi Transport Corporation depots.

The city government had asked for an expression of interest (EOI) from local companies in July last year to build, operate and manage five filling stations for CNG buses, one each in Malir, Surjani, Shah Latif Town, Gulistan-i-Jauhar and Orangi Town. In response, local firms submitted 33 EoIs for the five stations a year ago, but the CDGK has failed to award any contracts so far.Well-placed sources cite several reasons for the delay, including the non-availability of proposed sites and required gas pressure.

They said some proposed sites were in the possession of the Pakistan Rangers and they were unwilling to vacate the premises in the absence of any alternative arrangement. Besides, the compressed natural gas was being provided by the Sui Southern Gas Company, with a pressure of seven pound per square inch (psi), which was insufficient for large buses, the sources said.“The gas pressure required for filling a bus is 35 psi,” said Executive District Officer (Transport) Malik Zaheerul Islam.“It is a big problem and we have brought this matter to the knowledge of the federal government and the SSGC authorities.

We had a series of meetings with the SSGC during the last three to four months and the company finally agreed to lay the required gas lines with a minimum pressure of 30 psi.”He said the planning commission played an important role in the development. The SSGC completed its survey and it would also bear some expenses as the project was financially viable for it, he added.

The EDO agreed that there was a delay in the setting up of CNG filling stations that coincided with the arrival of CNG buses. “In the light of new findings, the CDGK has decided to re-advertise the RFPs (request for proposal) to set up CNG stations for buses as we want to make the transport affordable,” he said.

He said the city government raised the issue of some depots occupied by Rangers with the provincial and the federal governments and they agreed to get the premises vacated from the paramilitary force.

Shahbaz Re-launches Varan Bus Service

RAWALPINDI: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday re-launched Varan Tours bus service in Rawalpindi.He also announced that work on the Elevated Expressway over Murree Road would begin soon, saying the project will ease traffic flow between Mareer Chowk and Faizabad on the city’s busiest artery.

Speaking at the function, where local MNAs and MPAs, senior officials of provincial and city district governments and many others turned up, the chief minister said that it’s unfortunate that commuters wasted their precious time waiting at bus stops.He said that the Punjab government was committed to providing better travelling facility to the people of the province and revolutionary measures were being taken for the purpose.

He said that the government had made a new transport scheme under which a quality public transport service would be guaranteed throughout the province. He said that 25 per cent funding to this ambitious project would come from the provincial kitty. He said that the scheme was aimed at providing commuters with quality transport at affordable charges.Shahbaz said that the PML-N led provincial government was striving to end people’s deprivation through provision of better facilities.

He said that efforts were on to provide justice, education and health facilities on the doorstep of the common man.He accused the last government of wasting resources thoughtlessly by purchasing luxurious items for themselves.Shahbaz said that no nation could survive without justice and the PML-N was raising its voice for restoration of the deposed judges including chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

He said that his party would never accept the incumbent PCO judges. Varan Tours Chairwoman Uzma Gul said on the occasion that she had to close down transport service in the past due to the last government’s political victimisation.She said that the service’s closure cost 1,200 employees their jobs. She said that over 200,000 commuters used to travel in Varan buses daily.

She said that the company would try its best to provide commuters of Islamabad and Rawalpindi with a quality transport service.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Lahore also needs Shahbaz Sharif attention towards revamping transport system sepecially the present Bus system and Mass Transit too.

US Company Shows Interest in CNG Buses

KARACHI: A three-member delegation of the US Foton Bus Company has shown interest in operating environment-friendly CNG buses in Karachi by submitting a proposal to initially ply two buses on an experimental basis and then extend the service, said Sindh Transport Minister Akhtar Hussain Jadoon.

The delegation comprised company president Perry T D Lockerly, VP Joseph Verghese and their Pakistan representative Modern Motors Director Shahryar Rafiq.The city has 40 approved routes. The delegation inquired about fares and said that the buses will be designed according to the weather of Pakistan. app/ppi

CDGK’s CNG Bus Project stalls

KARACHI: The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) is facing difficulties in launching its CNG bus project, Daily Times learnt on Saturday.

According to CDGK sources, the Sindh government handed over the documents of possession of 9 defunct depots of the Karachi Transport Corporation (KTC) to the CDGK in September 2006 but physical possession is not possible as the depots are being used by the law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

The KTC was disbanded in 1997 and its employees were relieved with golden handshakes for which the government received a loan of Rs 1,263 million from the World Bank.The CDGK Mass Transit Cell (MTC) has invited investors for the proposed scheme, which will introduce 500 CNG buses on 40 green routes of the city.

However, the basic infrastructure facilities for the scheme are yet to be finalized, with the biggest concern being the acquirement of the necessary land for bus terminals. The MTC has also announced the establishment of a project implementation and monitoring unit for this project.

After devolution of power and emergence of district governments, transport departments, including the District Road Transport Authority (DRTA), Traffic Engineering Bureau (TEB) of the defunct Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and the Karachi Public Transport Society (KPTS), which is responsible for the operation of radio cabs and Metro air-conditioned coaches, all came under the CDGK's control.

In a meeting held at the Sindh governor house on August 22, 2005, a decision regarding the handover to the CDGK was taken and the district coordination officer wrote a letter to the ministry of labour, transport, industry and commerce in this regard on June 21, 2006. The Sindh government transferred the possession rights of 9 KTC depots, one terminal and one office, situated on the third floor of Civic Centre to the CDGK.

The depots include the Landhi, Korangi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Malir, Mehran (Model Colony, Malir), North Karachi, Surjani Town, Orangi Town and Model (SITE) depots. According to the source, a meeting between CDGK officials and the Planning Commission of Pakistan (PCP) was held in Islamabad last week, where the CDGK raised the issue of possession of the KTC depots by LEAs.

The depots in Korangi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Malir and Mehran are being used by the Pakistan Rangers, while the Orangi Town depot is being used by the Karachi Police, which has established the Peerabad Police Station and a traffic section in the depot.The CDGK approached the Sindh chief secretary for assistance in the matter but he advised them to approach Federal Home Advisor Rehman Malik, as he would be able to pass their request on to Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza.

Under the terms of transfer of the KTC property, the CDGK will be required to pay the Rs 1,263 million-loan back to the World Bank. However, it has still not been decided who will pay the interest of Rs 400 million on the loan.

Although the CDGK is yet to take physical possession of the property, the source added that on June 15, the Sindh Finance Department wrote to CDGK, reminding them to pay the first installment of the loan or face the deduction of funds at the source

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Such projects are always have to be shed by the local governments as they can't do any thing against the wagon and truck mafia in both Lahore and Karachi............... Ironic Indeed.

CDGK to Start Work on Malir Expressway Next Month

KARACHI: The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) will start building bunds or dams along the banks of the Malir River for the Malir Expressway that will ease heavy downtown traffic.

The expressway has been approved and funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which completed the initial study that was started on March 14, 2008. The project would have a timeframe of 24 months from the launch next month. The project is part of the ADB-funded Karachi Mega City Sustainable Development Programme (KMCSDP).

KMCSDP project officer Roshan Ali Sheikh told Daily Times that the expressway is being built to relieve the burden on Shahra-e-Faisal, provide direct access to Korangi Industrial area, the Export Processing Zone, DHA, Clifton and Karachi Port Trust for traffic from the National Highway, Pakistan Steel Mills, Port Qasim and southern inter-connection roads. The expressway would link up with 8,000 other roads as well.

The construction of the bunds on the banks of the Malir River would start from Baloch Colony through Shaheed-e-Millat Expressway, transferring along the existing left and right banks of the river and terminating at the National Highway at Malir Bridge.KMCSDP deputy project coordinator G Mohiuddin Asim told Daily Times that the study was carried out by Techno Consultant International (TCI), which would be shortly starting on a comprehensive survey of the banks to explore the most feasible alignment so that the least number of people have to move.

They are also going to look at the removal of land encroachments, land acquisitions, bridges and flyovers. The survey would also deal with matters such as the determination of land ownership around the expressway to decide whether land acquisition or resettlement would be required. The TCI would undertake an economic and financial analysis to include the possibilities of private sector involvement in the project, added Asim.

The expressway would connect Shah Faisal Colony and its adjoining areas with the city centre and southern parts. It would help reduce the volume on Shahra-e-Faisal, reduce distance, travel time and fuel cost as well.

Karachi Provincial Government Will Start the Bus Service

KARACHI: Transport Minister Akhtar Hussain Jadoon criticised the performance of the CDGK transport department and said that his department would add public buses to Sindh with 500 in the first go.

Addressing a press conference at his office Thursday evening, he said that the Sindh government is holding talks with foreign companies. He lambasted the CDGK for what he said were its faulty policies. In the past it had introduced 70 ‘Green Buses’, which “vanished” from Karachi’s roads within a few months. He said that now the CDGK is claiming to introduce 4,000 more CNG buses in Karachi.

He questioned the performance of the CDGK.Jadoon said that the CDGK was interfering in the affairs of the provincial transport department. He said that the federal government provided funds to the transport department via the Sindh government and that now the provincial transport department will use this money itself.

He regretted that the CDGK was not allowing the newly posted EDO Transport to take charge, despite the transfer of the previous EDO Transport. The previous EDO is presently on a foreign visit on government expense. He claimed that Rs 9.36 billion belonging to the department had been spent on such foreign visits and that the government will order a probe into this waste of precious state funds.

Jadoon harshly criticized the performance of traffic police and accused them of taking bribes and extortion from transporters. Fake vehicle fitness certificates were being issued on the basis of bribery and extortion. Some transporters, in connivance with corrupt elements in the traffic police and CDGK, had occupied bus terminals and other properties of the transport department that will be vacated at all costs.

He said that on the special instructions of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, the provincial government will foot the expenses of converting 70,000 two-stroke rickshaws to four-stroke rickshaws. CNG engines will be provided to public transport buses running on diesel as well.

The provincial transport department wants to provide facilities to commuters, but certain elements create hurdles in its way. He said that his ministry is contacting the Sindh chief minister and higher leadership of the PPP to take action against these elements.