Punjab Government’s mega project Bus Rapid Transit System has fallen prey to bad coordination between executing departments, which are in a rush to meet the close deadlines, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The grave matter of concern is that Lahore Transport Company and Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency are keeping Punjab chief minister in dark regarding gradual development on the project. These bureaucratic hiccups are the similar that put drastic dents in CM’s initiative projects like Sasti Roti, Dengue Prevention and Online System of Educational Boards.
LTC has outsourced this project to TEPA for construction of a dedicated lane for the service however deadlines of both the departments for completion of the work do not match to each other. LTC in a presentation to CM said that first phase of the project would be ready before April 1. However, it proved to be an April fool as the work on first stretch from Gajju Matta to Kalma Chowk is still not finished. TEPA officials claim they had been given a different deadline and April 1 was never communicated to them.
The proposed plan of BRT is divided into three sections; Ferozepur Road Corridor (Green Line), Multan Road (Orange line) and Canal Road.
The initial execution of BRT includes the first 10 km, which is from Gajju Matta to Kalma Chowk, with the aforementioned deadline of April 1. The execution of the remaining 17 Km will be started after the culmination of Phase-I. The overall project completion date of the Green line corridor was set for December, 2012. But delay in the completion of first stretch has made the whole project susceptible.
Earlier the first stretch plan has also been modified twice. Initially, the first phase of BRTS was to run about 5.6 km from Chungi Amer Sidhu to Kalma Chowk. This stretch was later extended to 7.3 km, running from Kamahan to Kalma Chowk. Again in February, it was decided that first phase would run from Gajju Mata to Kalma Chowk covering a distance of around 10 km.
An LTC spokesperson, when contacted for comment on the delay in completion of work, said the project was being executed by TEPA and they were responsible for not meeting the deadline. Chief Engineer TEPA Saeed Akhtar revealed while talking to Pakistan Today that completion date for the first stretch had been set for May 7. He said for the next phase of BRTS, a PC-1 has been prepared and pending for approval from the provincial government.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has claimed Bus Rapid Transit System will prove to be paradigm shift in public transport system in Pakistan. Due to this service, a culture of travelling through public transport instead of personal vehicles will be promoted among the people that would result in energy saving, he added. He said that buses plying under Bus Rapid Transit System will be attractive, air-conditioned and environment-friendly and electronic ticketing will be arranged for commuters. These latest buses will especially be beneficial for physically handicapped persons, women, children and senior citizens and the platforms of the bus stands will be of low height for the convenience of passengers, he added.
Addressing a meeting held to review progress on Bus Rapid Transit System, the CM said due to modern transport technology, e-ticketing, intelligent transport system, swiftness and latest facilities for the passengers, Bus Rapid Transit System will be unprecedented. He said due to the importance of Bus Rapid Transit System, it has been decided that an autonomous authority will operate it for which necessary legislation is being made. He said that experiences of an Indian city Ahmadabad will also be benefited regarding plying Bus Rapid Transit System so that maximum facilities could be provided to the masses. Similarly, latest intelligent transport system equipped with computer technology was also being introduced for the maintenance of smooth traffic flow and protection of life and property of the people on roads in the big cities. He said that like other schemes, this project will also be executed in transparent manner.
Earlier, DG LDA and a representative of Engineering Consultancy Services Punjab during their separate briefings apprised the meeting of various technical aspects of Bus Rapid Transit System Project. DG LDA informed that with a view of importance of this project, work will be carried out round the clock while suitable places have been selected for the construction of two parking plazas on Ferozepur Road for the facilities of public and the traders. The meeting was informed that 2.5 lakh passengers will daily travel through bus rapid transit system and in addition to construction of overhead bridges on suitable places, road crossings will also be arranged for the disabled.
Punjab Government’s mega project Bus Rapid Transit System is defective by design. Trust me I am an engineer. BUT I wont give you the solution because you have not treated your engineers like bankers. (period) Just stew in your own juice sir gee
I m also a Civil engineer, and I agree that while making design of the BRTS, problems of general trrafic have not been taken into account. e.g currently it looks that no U-turn is available from Chungi Amer Sidhu to Nishter Colony which will create a lot of problems latter on.
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