Long wait coming to an end: CDGK to start CNG bus service by end of April

[LahoreEstate]

By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: The City District Government Karachi’s (CDGK) preparations for the launch of a CNG bus service in the city are nearing completion and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has issued stern directives to the project in charge to ensure commencement of the service by the end of April.

The project was initially announced by the federal government in the 2006-07 financial year, at a cost of Rs 2.5 billion, with the deadline for their introduction being set at February 2008. Under the federal government’s plan, the project would be a public-private partnership enterprise and would lead to the introduction of 8,000 CNG buses throughout the country and 800 buses for Karachi. Initially, 500 buses were to be introduced in the city and the federal government had extended the deadline till July 2008, as confirmed by CDGK Mass Transit Cell Director General Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam, who, in February 2008, had told Daily Times that 500 CNG buses would be on the roads by July 2008.

However, as the federal government failed to initiate the project, the CDGK, in January 2009, announced that the CDGK would, under a self-reliance programme, introduce 50 CNG buses in the city by March 15, at a cost of Rs 250 million. However, the CDGK would have managed the introduction of these buses much before as the CDGK had, previously, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Pakistan-based company, M/s Kenhill, to invest in the public transportation sector, with the financial collaboration of a Holland-based company, to introduce 500 dedicated CNG buses. The deadline for the CNG buses to be operational was June 2007 but M/s Kenhill declined to abide by the MoU for reasons best known to either party.

However, finally it seems that the CDGK has managed to overcome the financial crunch and 50 CNG buses will ply on the roads of the city by end of April. The locally manufactured buses, which comply with international standards, will be introduced at a cost of Rs 250 million. The buses would run on two routes, from Sarjani Town to Merewether Tower and from Safoora Goth via Shahra-e-Faisal to Merewether Tower. Further, there would also be a shuttle service from Gulshan-e-Maymar to Liaquatabad No 10.

The CDGK would keep the ownership of these 50 buses, as well as be responsible for the revenue collection. However, operations would be outsourced to standard and well-reputed transport companies through open bids. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) would be responsible for the maintenance of these buses, while the CDGK would bear all expenses accrued on maintenance.

There would be no need for a bus conductor as an e-ticketing system will be introduced, wherein, the passengers will be issued a rechargeable tariff card that would be valid for five to 15 trips. The CDGK would not charge any fee against the tariff card on the first transaction or at the time of recharging, except if the card is lost.

The CDGK will charge the amount of tariff in terms of number of trips, known as flat fare, which would range from Rs 12 to Rs 14. The passengers would have to submit their CNIC or mobile phone number for the issuance of the rechargeable tariff card. Passengers would be allowed to enjoy facility of at least one trip free of cost if they buy the tariff card for more than 5 kilometers.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg12_1