Service expansion: Pricey bids delay proposed metro feeder buses for Pindi

Turkish operator of metro line prices itself out of contention

ISLAMABAD:

The introduction of a feeder-route network to connect the Rs44.8 billion Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus line to populated suburban localities may face delays.

The Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMBA) has decided to scrap the entire tendering process it initiated for the purchase and operation of 78 feeder buses to ply various proposed routes within Rawalpindi city.

On September 14, several renowned transport firms participated in a pre-bid conference on procurement, operations, and maintenance of feeder buses for Rawalpindi.

“The process has been scrapped as all firms filed bids higher than the reserve price,” said PMBA Operations General Manager Muhammad Ozair Shah.

Shah said the lowest bid offered was Rs190 per kilometre (km), while in Lahore, PMBA pays Rs178 per km.

PMBA officials said the lowest bid of Rs190 per km was filed by Daweeo, while Turkish firm Albayrak, which operates the Lahore and Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro services, filed a bid of over Rs200 per km.

“PMBA will invite fresh bids soon,” Shah said. The feeder buses will be 8-metres-long, with a capacity of 35 passengers each.

Free feeder service

According to proposed arrangements shared by a senior PMBA official, the shuttle service will be free-of-cost for users of the main metro line. An integrated ticket collection system will be installed for the purpose, the official added.

Commuters using the shuttle service would pay Rs15 to get to a metro station and would be charged Rs5 more to use the main line. The full fare for the metro line is Rs 20.

“The total number of feeder routes in Rawalpindi will certainly be above five, and serve to provide last-mile connectivity from major stations to remote localities,” said Rawalpindi Commissioner Zahid Saeed, adding that areas such as the airport, Sawan, Raja Bazar, Peshawar Road and Pir Wadahi will be connected with major stations in the city.

The feeder buses, like the main metro line, will be monitored and their locations will be displayed on boards at the metro stations. Existing metro smartcards will be accepted.

No additional infrastructure will be needed for the new service except bus stations. Existing roads will have marked bus lanes instead.

Feeder routes in Islamabad

The Punjab government has also asked the capital’s civic agency to initiate work on feeder routes within its territory on behalf of the federal government.

Following the request, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has initiated paperwork for the project, although the civic agency is unclear on who will fund the project — the CDA or the federal government via the Public Sector Development Programme.

“On directions from the Punjab government, the CDA has put this project in its priority list,” said a senior CDA official, adding that a meeting was also held on the issue.

Major routes proposed by the CDA within Islamabad include Rawat via Islamabad Highway, Tarnol via Kashmir Highway, Bhara Kahu, and prominent market areas.

“The project is in the initial stages. Details including routes and fare collection systems have not been finalised,” CDA spokesperson Ramzan Sajid told The Express Tribune.

The federal and Punjab governments shared the cost of the project, officially named the ‘Pakistan Metro Bus’ service on June 4, when it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2015.