Public transport: Study for city’s mass transit system gets rolling
Final report expected by March 2014 .
Developing a mass transit system was a part of urban reforms initiated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
A feasibility study on the much-awaited mass transit system (MTS) for the provincial capital has begun in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, and is expected to be completed within three months.
A government official told The Express Tribune on Saturday a team comprising local and international experts on transport planning, engineering, finance and environment has been constituted for the purpose.
He added a final report was expected by March 2014, which will be followed by the design stage. “People will see infrastructure developments in the next fiscal year.”
“The experts are working closely with various departments of the provincial government, including the transport department, municipal corporation, Peshawar Development Authority, traffic police, Pakistan Railways, Urban Policy Unit, Planning and Development department, and the Investment Promotion Cell,” he said.
Growing demands of commuters
The official explained the estimated population of Peshawar at the moment is 2.8 million and is likely to grow to nearly 4.5 million during this 20-year public transport strategy,” he said.
Discussing the priorities of the team of experts, he said they would take into consideration the current urban area of Peshawar and its possible extension over the next 20 years to design a feasible public transport strategy. “For this reason, an extensive study of the area covering 77 union councils of the city will be carried out.”
Identifying localities which will fall under the MTS study, the official said urbanisation resulted in ribbon development along Warsak, Charsadda and Dalazak roads to the north, and Bara Road, Indus Highway and Phandu Road to the south.
The Secretariat precinct located adjacent to Khyber Road and Justice Kiani/Saddar Road will be a key source of passenger demand for the system, he added.
The city’s commercial areas located around Saddar Road, Qissa Khwani, Pipal Mandi, Khyber Bazaar, Jamrud Road corridor and Karkhano Bazaar generate substantial demand for travel but are usually congested with traffic at various times of the day.
“Education is a substantial component of urban activity in Peshawar – over 57% of the population is under 20 years of age. Over 2,300 educational institutions are located throughout the city, mostly concentrated on Warsak Road to the north and in University Town area to the west,” he said.
The city also has three industrial estates; two for small industries and one for medium industries. One small industries estate is located on Kohat Road and the other on Jamrud Road adjacent to the medium industries estate. The industry sector provides employment for approximately 14,000 workers, i.e commuters.
More homework
Developing a mass transit system was a part of urban reforms initiated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government. The official added further initiatives included establishing a transport policy unit and computerisation of its departmental database vehicle registrations and fitness certifications, a master plan for four cities in the province, strategic development plan for seven cities, provincial transport policy study, traffic management study for four cities including Peshawar, and study on viable transport solutions (including parking) for Peshawar.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2013.
A feasibility study on the much-awaited mass transit system (MTS) for the provincial capital has begun in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, and is expected to be completed within three months.
A government official told The Express Tribune on Saturday a team comprising local and international experts on transport planning, engineering, finance and environment has been constituted for the purpose.
He added a final report was expected by March 2014, which will be followed by the design stage. “People will see infrastructure developments in the next fiscal year.”
“The experts are working closely with various departments of the provincial government, including the transport department, municipal corporation, Peshawar Development Authority, traffic police, Pakistan Railways, Urban Policy Unit, Planning and Development department, and the Investment Promotion Cell,” he said.
Growing demands of commuters
The official explained the estimated population of Peshawar at the moment is 2.8 million and is likely to grow to nearly 4.5 million during this 20-year public transport strategy,” he said.
Discussing the priorities of the team of experts, he said they would take into consideration the current urban area of Peshawar and its possible extension over the next 20 years to design a feasible public transport strategy. “For this reason, an extensive study of the area covering 77 union councils of the city will be carried out.”
Identifying localities which will fall under the MTS study, the official said urbanisation resulted in ribbon development along Warsak, Charsadda and Dalazak roads to the north, and Bara Road, Indus Highway and Phandu Road to the south.
The Secretariat precinct located adjacent to Khyber Road and Justice Kiani/Saddar Road will be a key source of passenger demand for the system, he added.
The city’s commercial areas located around Saddar Road, Qissa Khwani, Pipal Mandi, Khyber Bazaar, Jamrud Road corridor and Karkhano Bazaar generate substantial demand for travel but are usually congested with traffic at various times of the day.
“Education is a substantial component of urban activity in Peshawar – over 57% of the population is under 20 years of age. Over 2,300 educational institutions are located throughout the city, mostly concentrated on Warsak Road to the north and in University Town area to the west,” he said.
The city also has three industrial estates; two for small industries and one for medium industries. One small industries estate is located on Kohat Road and the other on Jamrud Road adjacent to the medium industries estate. The industry sector provides employment for approximately 14,000 workers, i.e commuters.
More homework
Developing a mass transit system was a part of urban reforms initiated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government. The official added further initiatives included establishing a transport policy unit and computerisation of its departmental database vehicle registrations and fitness certifications, a master plan for four cities in the province, strategic development plan for seven cities, provincial transport policy study, traffic management study for four cities including Peshawar, and study on viable transport solutions (including parking) for Peshawar.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2013.