‘LTC to sign agreements with private-sector companies’

LAHORE – The Lahore Transport Company (LTC) is expected to sign agreements with private-sector companies for providing standardised and affordable transport facilities to citizens of Lahore, LTC Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan said on Monday.
He was chairing a meeting to discuss the company’s working. Hassaan, back from his Turkish visit, said that Turkey had taken an initiative for investing in Pakistan’s urban transport sector. He said that a Turkish delegation would visit Lahore within a few days in order to implement the action plan devised for investing in the transport sector. The LTC chairman said that a vehicle testing centre, bus terminal and bus rapid transit system, parking plazas, electronic ticketing and a fleet management system would be established with Turkish collaboration.
Hassan said that the bus rapid transit project is expected to have a revolutionary impact on the transport sector. He said that in the first phase, the bus rapid transit system would be introduced on the Ferozepur Road and Multan Road. He said that dedicated lanes would be constructed on these roads in order to facilitate fast buses.
The LTC chairman said that after South Korea, Turkey has also decided to invest in the rapid transit system. Hassan pointed out that his Turkish visit had proved to be a milestone in strengthening mutual contracts between the two countries. He said that an increase in bus fares in wake of an increase of diesel prices should be according to the formula agreed between urban transport associations and the LTC.
The LTC chairman said that an operational subsidy would be provided to old buses so that private-sector transport companies could utilise resources in order to refurbish the old fleet. He said that the enforcement system is being made effective due to which hundred transport enforcement inspectors are being recruited directly on merit.
Hassan said that private-sector transport companies are cooperating with the LTC in developing the urban transport sector. Separately, the Punjab transport secretary said that Turkey has a keen interest in vehicle inspection and certification services, bus rapid transit, intelligent transportation system and integrated traffic management system, e-ticketing, fleet management system, bus terminals project in Lahore, parking development and management projects.