Rs165bn Lahore metro train project approved
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ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday cleared the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project costing Rs165.20 billion, and referred it to Ecnec for final approval.
The project envisages construction of 27.1km long dedicated signal-free corridor for train mass transit system in Lahore.
Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who chaired the CDWP meeting, asked the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) which will execute the
project to ensure completion of the mega project in 27 months.
The corridor will be capable of accommodating two trains running on both ways with design capacity of the system at 30,000 passengers per hour.
The orange line metro train is being financed by the Punjab from its own resources with a concessional loan from the Chinese government.
Iqbal laid emphasis on transfer of technology for building the indigenous capacity to construct such mass transit system by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese company.
He said that it will be a landmark mass transit project for the poor and the middle class to commute with world class facilities at an affordable fare.
Commercial spaces should be conceived at the metro stations architecture to help overcome the big difference in the operational cost and revenue of the mass transit, he said.
The proposed alignment of the project starts from Ali Town, passing through Niaz Baig, Bund Road, Chauburji, Anarkali, Lakshmi, Railway Station, University of Engineering and Technology, Shalamar Garden, Islam Park, and terminates at Dera Gujran.
In total, the CDWP cleared seven projects worth Rs180bn, including the orange line metro project. Four projects worth Rs2.362bn were approved; three projects worth Rs177.7bn were recommended to Ecnec.
Another project recommended to Ecnec was the construction of a four-lane bridge across Indus River, linking Layyah with Taunsa worth Rs6.976bn. However, it was cleared with the financing condition of two-third from Sindh government. The Larkana development package of infrastructure projects worth Rs8.113bn was also approved subject to cost rationalisation.
The feasibility study of an energy project of Balochistan government for environmental impact assessment worth Rs209.70m was also approved by the CDWP.
Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2015
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Comments (62) Closed
May 06, 2015 08:49am
As an outsider to Pakistan I can't help but notice one fact. All major projects happen only in Punjab. It's as it the rest of the country is inconsequential. They should have started the metro rail project in Karachi and not Lahore.
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May 06, 2015 09:04am
Karachi needs one more than lahore
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May 06, 2015 09:06am
This project will not help education,health,industry,foreign policy,economy. It only increases overseas bank balances of few favorites
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May 06, 2015 09:23am
165bn..??? for single project.....??
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May 06, 2015 09:51am
This should be an eye opener for Karachi and its people. They should be asking their leaders why Karachi despite its size and resources can't get a comparable system.
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May 06, 2015 09:57am
Considering our energy problems we should be spending Rs165bn on energy projects.
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May 06, 2015 10:54am
Better late than never
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May 06, 2015 11:04am
Please export the coaches from German or Japanese company. "MADE IN CHINA" can be a risk factor.
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May 06, 2015 11:13am
That is *all* this Government can think about Metro , Motorways and roads. It's easiest to loot and plunder in such projects . This complete lack of vision is running the country into the ground ...!
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May 06, 2015 11:32am
What about the deteriorating situation of water supply and sewerage facilities to the other population of North Punjab. All the available resources are being spent on useless projects in Lahore only and health + education is being graded down to earth. The Basha Dam, DasuHydro power projects are not being started which has return of 20 - 25 %. These railway projects has very low return rate.
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May 06, 2015 11:33am
@Mansoor yea only if sindh government wakes up. "The orange line metro train is being financed by the Punjab from its own resources with a concessional loan from the Chinese government".sindh govt is busy in financing themselves.
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May 06, 2015 11:36am
@Muhammad iqbal it will show in long run. dont u know the traffic condition of karachi. its due to the fact that nobody here ever thought about bringing up these systems. what an agony being struck in traffic jam..
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May 06, 2015 11:56am
@Mansoor Probably should think twice before voting MQM or PPP then. Ask the politicians elected by the people of Karachi that if the chosen representatives are not doing anything then why vote them term after term.
MQM has been in power for two decades. I have nothing against MQM and never visited Karachi but shouldn't the trend in beautiful city of Karachi change towards development from extortion and killings. Malik Riaz from Bahria town is doing good job there.
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May 06, 2015 12:00pm
@Muhammad iqbal Very Well Said Brother!
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May 06, 2015 12:17pm
How unfortunate when we see being in southern Punjab that there are lack of basic facility like hospital school sewerage system and money is being poured in Lahore
How painful that there is no cancer hospital in 60 million population of southern punjab and people die in inches
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May 06, 2015 12:19pm
Lahore have Metro bus already. Kindly build something in Karachi to replace decade old busses and chinchis...
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May 06, 2015 01:13pm
Proposal was presented by Govt. of punjab, defended and earned funding.............same can be done by other provinces
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May 06, 2015 01:26pm
@Mansoor As long as MQM and PPP are fighting to control the city, no investor will be willing to put the money in such projects. Who decides if the city opens or closes, is a big question for any investor.
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May 06, 2015 01:37pm
And every one in Pakistan was saying spending Rs 5 bn for mangalyaan was a useless investment for India
Using 165 bn for only 27-28 km long metro seems like metro will be decorated by precious metal
Learn something from Delhi metro project
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May 06, 2015 02:21pm
Pakistan would be the first country where more than 65% of population living below Poverty line with no adequate supply of clean water (in fact Water), electricity and health facilities but yes, they have Mega-Mass transit system in her cities.
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May 06, 2015 02:23pm
@Gaurav Arya Sindh is the most rich province of Pakistan but unfortunately development wise they are the worse.
Punjab spends money from their own budget but the other provinces lack the ability to plan and execute any project.
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May 06, 2015 02:43pm
@Gaurav Arya Punjab is financing this project from its own resources. Other provinces can do that, too, if they wish. And being outsider, you may not know, but roads and transportation is provincial subject & federal govt has nothing to do with it.
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May 06, 2015 02:49pm
Why PMLN has to do everything in Punjab, and within Punjab everything in Lahore? They always ignore Karachi, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad, Haiderabad, Quetta.
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May 06, 2015 03:01pm
@Gaurav Arya I complete agree with your observation. Yes, this is in fact happening here and has drawn severe criticism . The single track ( no pun intended) focus on roads, roads and then some more roads has not got down well with people .
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May 06, 2015 03:29pm
This good news indeed. However there other more deserving cities in Pakistan that need urgent attention!!
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May 06, 2015 03:33pm
@Gaurav Arya
There is already a long listed similar project in Karachi, as regards projects in provinces, you may have heard of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the main Pakistani beneficiary will be Balochistan actually, where the port is located.
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May 06, 2015 03:43pm
The government would be wiser to spend these funds in harnessing the 'water deluge' in the northern areas, generate much need electric power and then 'distribute' awter in areas like Sindh/Balochistan where droughts are common phenomena!!
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May 06, 2015 03:46pm
@Ahmad because PML N is a regional party ... 90% vote bank is in punjab... so they try to make them happy.....:)
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May 06, 2015 03:48pm
i think we must have understood by now that why he is into metros,buses etc because he is a businessman n these projects will benefit him and other business class. PM wants us to praise him for these projects?.. what about Educating children,poverty reduction..??Shoudnt these be priority? no because these will not benefit him and his likes.he will carry on same projects if he is elected 3 more times
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May 06, 2015 04:15pm
It is good too see the mass transit/Metro Train project being envisage for Lahore , but I ask PMLN why Karachi being neglected so badly and I don't who will take the ownership for Karachi to take care , though all want share from Karachi !. Why not a motor way from the beginning where all logistic starts & ends and it is in another way Gate way of Pakistan. They are ruling Pakistan but concentrated only for Lahore's development , which is not fair one. Karachi is the largest city & contributing around 70% to the exchequer and yet badly neglected.
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May 06, 2015 04:53pm
@JET LEE . They will be getting Chinese stuff due strong relations & better deal ? as per the practices prevailing in the country and we all know that the Chinese product we get is one time use & disposalable !
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May 06, 2015 05:00pm
Any thing/project to help the masses is welcomed.
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May 06, 2015 05:05pm
@Sajid Who cares for Karachi , though the city gives 70% to the exchequer and still neglected. PMLN is there only for Lahore & Lahore !
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May 06, 2015 05:06pm
@Gaurav Arya Dont you Notice that its a "PUNJAB GOVT"project so offcourse it will be in punjab!!!!!!!!
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May 06, 2015 05:11pm
@Mansoor PLZ DONT FORGET THE FACTS:
karachi mass transit was one of the 1st multi billion dollar project which was started through JICA & approved to be financed by Japanese government.
unfortunately sindh gov was failed to meet the basic requirements like evacuation of illegal residents on circular railways land.
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May 06, 2015 05:32pm
Good news for Lahore and Pakistan in general!
But sad Karachi mass transit system is on the shelves since ages; is there any one who can raise voice for karachi? Being the largest city of 16 Million, it logical that the city needs inter city rail/metro system.
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May 06, 2015 06:46pm
@Gaurav Arya previous government belonged to Sindh, including MQM ruled for 13 years but nothing happened. So dear its about province capacity to make any project, Sindh has been.then most corrupt same like in India Uttar Pradesh
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May 06, 2015 06:53pm
@Zafar Ahmed karachi voted MQM so ask the question from them. Mqm and ppp ruled previously, did they bring any change?
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May 06, 2015 06:56pm
@Zafar Ahmed stop complaining and ask MQM (mqm ruled 13 years)and ppp who ruled previously, did they make sindh a EUROPE?
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May 06, 2015 07:25pm
@Atif Khan
Actually, all of these loans have the backing of the Federation.
Punjab wouldnt be able to get any loans unless Pak Govt wasnt the backer.
The same is not extended to other provinces.
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May 06, 2015 10:26pm
@Gaurav Arya It dépends what are the priorities of the provinces Just like India where all cities doesnt have metro train..
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May 06, 2015 10:44pm
@Gaurav Arya
The reason is because punjab is the only place that has a chief minister who is doing anything to develop the province. Sindh is run by the inept PPP, and KPK is run by a party obsessed with protest. Balochistan is getting quite a bit of development, as is gilgit-baltistan because of the federal government.
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May 06, 2015 10:46pm
Transportation projects are needed - every developing country has metro rail because they understand the need for transit. Why should we be different? Why should we let lahore rot away from pollution and prevent its citizens from easy transport to jobs? The people on this board who are against this project are people who have their own cars.
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May 06, 2015 10:53pm
@Gaurav Arya did you read it? it is financed by Punjab government.
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May 06, 2015 10:54pm
@Mansoor so do it please. Where is Sindh's budget going? IF Punjab government can fiancé it then I believe Sindh can do even better with bigger resources at hand.
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May 06, 2015 10:56pm
@Muhammad iqbal Although over budget projects are hallmark of PML-N, but your criticism is misplaced. Everything is needed. People need transport to go to school and hospital.
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May 06, 2015 10:57pm
@Gaurav Arya , Its the Punjab Government's project and our Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif is a very hard working person, who is working day and night for betterment of Punjab. Provincial governments of other provinces are not doing what they have to, its not Punjab's fault. Other CMs should work hard too. CM Shehbaz Sharif visited China several times to finalize this project and bargained its price from 2.23 B$ to 1.63 B$. All credit goes to him and his team.
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May 06, 2015 10:58pm
@JET LEE Why not to build in the railway factory in Islamabad?
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May 06, 2015 11:00pm
@Zaman unfortunately that is true about northern Punjab too. and more unfortunate that it is true about all of the Pakistan. and the most unfortunate is that a lot of people cannot see any thing except to blame Punjab.
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May 06, 2015 11:01pm
@Sajid at least read the article before commenting. who is stopping Sindh government to do better?
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May 06, 2015 11:04pm
@Ahmad you are only partially correct.
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May 06, 2015 11:06pm
@Tariq, Lahore which other city is more deserving in Punjab? remember it is Punjab governments money.
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May 06, 2015 11:06pm
@Ahmad Have you ever been to FaisalAbad because if you were then you won't say that, I am from southern punjab Burewala (Vehari) and I appreciate Punjab Govt.'s works in our city, though it is a tehsil still have one campus of Bahaudin Zikra Uni Multan and recently CM has inaugurated Agriculture University Faisalabad campus in our city. and work on an Industrial state in vehari has been started too.
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May 06, 2015 11:24pm
@Tariq, Lahore had not Punjab already sacrificed from her Water and distributable resources? you mean Punjab's budget should also be spend there? and where their own budget goes?
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May 06, 2015 11:27pm
@Zafar Ahmed Did you read the article? it is funded by Punjab government. Where is Sindh Government? About everyone wants share from Karachi, please learn. What do you think will make someone from Bannu or Sakurdu or Sakrand or Faisalabad or Multan to go to Karachi for menial jobs and to listen to likes of what you are saying?
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May 06, 2015 11:29pm
@shahid not just that, Karachi was the first one to have local circular railway. that has been robbed by big shots of kamahi/Sindh but also by ordinary people by encroaching its tracks and lands.
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May 06, 2015 11:30pm
@Ali and what did you do to the first local circular railway that Pakistan has had? and that was in Karachi.
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May 07, 2015 12:04am
Why Karachities are now complaining? You voted for MQM and people in interior sindh has always voted for BHUTTO. It is a lot easier to crtizie than to change youself. Now wait for the next election or demand from your public servants what you think deserve. Just one Jalsa held by PTI in Lahore i guess in 2011 was enough to wake up the Sharifs. They are spending on education as well. There's a Punjab education Endownment fund (PEEF) which provides scholarship to large number of students from whole Punjab,then there is Arfa Technology and education system in PUNJAB is by far better than other provinces. Yes, it's not perfect but far better. They are trying to build the infrastructure of the country which is a necessity if you want to improve economic situation of the country.
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May 07, 2015 12:31am
Total waste and needs to stop - please focus on energy generation projects.
This is not the infrastructure project Pakistan needs as it is energy intensive ... meaning burning more fuel and more electricity when people are suffering from load-shedding and industry is suffering losses.
Build hydro dams and reservoirs to save millions from drowning each year when monsoon rains come.
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May 07, 2015 01:33am
@Kanpuri
But even Lucknow is building a metro line and Kanpur has one in the planning stage !
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May 07, 2015 03:07am
Good Initiative. Similar one for Karachi is badly needed. Would the Nawaz government do this on a Federal basis, since PPP&MQM have not been capable of this despite being in power for decades.
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May 07, 2015 11:18am
@pakistani really is that simple? I don't see cheif ministers of other going to foreign trips and acting as quasi PM, making trade deals and project financing like PM's brother for his province...hmm what's wrong with that picture?
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