The government is expected to invite bids from international construction firms for the construction of the Metro Rapid Train Project by December. PHOTO: FILE
The Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMBA) is considering five financial models for the construction of a Metro Rapid Train project in Lahore, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The government is expected to invite bids from international construction firms for the construction of the Metro Rapid Train Project by December.
A feasibility study and reference designs for the project had been drawn in 2007 and 2008 in a joint venture between MVA Consultancy and SYSTRA. According to their reports, the proposed 26 kilometre rail line, from Ali Town, Thokar Niaz Baig, to Ring Road would cost around $2 billion.
A provincial government official, wishing to remain anonymous, said the project has been divided into two phases.
The first phase would cover 17 kilometres from Ali Town through Thokar Niaz Baig, Multan Road, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Chauburji, the MAO College till the General Post Office. From there, it would pass by Lahore Hotel, head towards the City railway station and end at Sultanpura.
The track beyond Sultanpura would be part of the second phase. It would pass by the University of Engineering and Technology, Daroghawala and Shalimar Garden on the Grand Trunk Road and end at Ring Road.
The rail line would either be constructed underground or elevated. A ground track is not being considered.
The feasibility report suggested that 6.9 kilometres of the track be laid under the ground and the rest be elevated.
If divided into two phases, the 17km-long track in the first phase would cost around $1.4 billion.
A Transport Department official said that the project would be divided into two phases. He said the PMBA was evaluating the built operate transfer (BOT), the design built operate transfer (DBOT), the engineering procurement construction (ECP) and two other financial models for the project.
He said that the project required a huge investment so it was important to carefully evaluate various models of financing. He said that a government-to-government loan was also among the options.
Given the level of expertise required, local construction firms would not be considered, he said. A tunnel boring machine, to build the 6.9km-long tunnel, would be used in an urban centre in Pakistan for the first time. A wire duct for the train tracks would also be laid, he said, local companies did not have the requisite expertise for that either.
As soon as the PMBA decided on the financial model, an ad calling for tenders be floated. The official said they had decided that the bidding process would be carried out in a single step without pre-qualification of firms. The ad would be issued by December. Decisions regarding the finalisation of firms to conduct feasibility studies for possible metro routes in Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan would be decided in the next two weeks. The PMBA spokesperson was not available for comment.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2013.
COMMENTS (11)
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UNDERGROUND is a NO-NO in flatland. Take that as a basic law
haaaaaaaaaaaaa............jokes of the day!
@unbelievable: Yeah but this is not the US. We barely have any public transportation in Pakistan. Our buses are so overcrowded and it so hot inside that people sit on the roof:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/618186/safety-hazard-bus-drivers-remove-ladders-to-keep-commuters-off-roofs/
So we need all the public transportation we can get.
Abdussamad is right on. Spock, you need to get a life.
Most people think that trains are cheaper than buses but that's not always true. In my area there was pressure to develop metro trains because they were big projects which created jobs and got some federal funding and were suppose to reduce traffic. Hindsight would indicate that while metro trains look cool and give the appearance of progress they didn't reduce traffic and simply transferred some people from buses to trains but not enough to get rid of the buses - now both buses and trains are losing money.
@Stealth:
Yet India has 10 metros currently and scores of others under construction.
Looks like poor India can afford 300 km metro just in Delhi but Rich pakistan cannot afford 26 km in the entire country even with foreign fund
@ Hasan..
i appreciate ur failed attempt of hiding ur "nationality"...better luck next time
$2Billion is way too much for just 26 km.
How are they gonna fund it?
@hasan: Why did you copied and pasted comments about India disguised as comments about Pakistan. The above comments exactly describe India in all its forms and manifestations.
@hasan: Well if you improve transportation people can travel to and from work, schools and other places. The lack of affordable public transport is one of the biggest failings of the government of Pakistan. Also as far as cost goes it does seem high but it will pay for itself in both economic growth, and the increased tax revenue that comes from that, as well as savings on foreign exchange that is spent on fuel for private cars.
Trains are a more efficient mode of transportation than private vehicles. One of the reasons our oil import bill is so high is because of the dysfunctional state of pak railways. As a result a lot of freight is carried on the roadways on diesel powered trucks. So here's hoping this metro train is managed by the private sector.
when 80% of the country is poor, hungry, malnourished, uneducated, without toilets and drinking water, why are we spending this money, that too begged from other countries on this useless project? Who will pay for this?