Transport Department seeks control of CNG bus project

September 12, 2011

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The Sindh Transport Department wants a say in major transport infrastructure issues of the metropolis following the disbandment of local government, according to official sources and documents obtained by The News on Wednesday. It seeks control over the CNG bus project on the pattern of other provinces while lamenting that the City District Government Karachi had never consulted it on the transport sector projects.

The Transport Department has floated a summary to the chief minister Sindh regarding the CNG buses and a host of transport sector projects. Subsequently, a high-level meeting was held at Sindh Secretariat to deliberate on these issues in detail and take decisions.

About CNG bus project, the meeting was informed that this project was taken up at a cost of Rs 5,000 million under the federal government-funded scheme for 10 mega cities including Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur of the Sindh province. The meeting was told that since the funds had been released for the purpose of purchasing buses, the operators of CNG buses be entertained as per the approved credit policy.

Informed sources said that the Transport Department wanted to take over the project implementation unit for launching the CNG bus scheme in true spirit and in line with the other provinces.

The meeting was informed that the Karachi Mass Transit Project was being managed by the CDGK but the Sindh Transport Department was never involved or consulted in any aspect of the project. The participants were told that since the CDGK now stands abolished, it would be advisable that this important project concerning major transport infrastructure issues of Karachi should be entrusted to the Transport Department.

Regarding the shifting of oil terminals from Shirin Jinnah Colony to Zulfikarabad on National Highway, the meeting was informed that the Sindh government had decided on June 30, 2008 to establish truck terminals at three gateways i.e. Super Highway, National Highway and RCD Highway in order to reform and promote an integrated and sustainable modernization of the trucking sector through efficient management of road freight sector. It was decided to entrust two out of three terminals to the Transport Department which was directed to make a request for the land allotment to Member (Land Utilization), Board of Revenue.

Subsequently, a committee constituted by the chief minister for resolving the transport-related problems held a meeting on July 27 and decided that in pursuance of the orders passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in suo moto case (No. 10-K) the oil terminal having modern facilities should be established at Zulfikarabad.

The committee also supported the proposals of the Transport Department contained in the summary that was submitted to the chief minister.

The Transport Department had proposed that in order to establish the facility for trucks, buses and tankers on 250 acres at two separate sites, it should be allowed to commence construction activity at Zulfikarabad and Hub River Road at the cost of Rs 313 million. However, the land could be insufficient for the purpose and the committee may also consider this aspect in view of the increasing number of oil tankers.

It was suggested in the summary that 200 acres land on each site may be allotted to the Transport Department along with the funds of Rs 150 million for each site for land levelling/earth filling and providing electricity, water, sewerage and roads etc. The sheds and other facilities will be arranged by the stake holders on BOT basis.

Regarding the construction of truck terminal at Hawksbay, the meeting was informed that 500 acres land was proposed in the year 2003 for the establishment of truck terminal. Although the payment challans for 150 acres land were issued, the establishment of the terminal could not materialize.

This matter was also referred to the said committee which decided that the terminals should be established on BOT basis under public/private partnership. It was also decided that such terminals should be established/administered by the Transport Department following the disbandment of the CDGK. The committee supported the allotment of land to Transport Department free of cost for the construction of the said terminals.

About the conversion of two-stroke rickshaws into four-stroke/CNG-dedicated vehicles, it was told that the Supreme Court had directed in its order of June 30, 2009 that “we would make it clear to concerned authorities that they should not adopt a procedure/measures which will render rickshaw drivers unemployed because they have to support their families”.

In compliance with the above orders, the chief secretary held a high-level meeting on October 12, 2009 wherein it was decided that in order to convert 500 two-stroke rickshaws of not beyond five years old a subsidy of Rs 30,000 would be given per rickshaw under a pilot project. The said decision of the meeting, however, could not be implemented as the schemes were held up owing to the devastating floods of last year.

The committee decided to move a summary on the subject to the chief minister for approval as well as preparing and submitting PC-I for the allocation of funds.

With regard to paying compensation for damaged/burnt vehicles, the meeting was informed that this mater has been taken up by the Home Department and it was under process with the Relief Commissioner. The transport associations had been approaching the Transport Department for the compensation of the losses that they sustained during the last one-and-a-half years.

Informed sources said that Chief Secretary Sindh Raja Muhammad Abbas had recently directed DCO Karachi Syed Muhammad Hussain to present a detailed report on these matters.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk