LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has ordered the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to prepare a feasibility report of the first electric Tramway Transit Project on Canal Road.

The CM chaired a meeting to review the feasibility of the tramway project from Thokar Niaz Beg to Harbanspura along Lahore Canal. He directed the LDA to give the feasibility final shape without any delay for proceeding and accelerate work on ongoing schemes in Lahore as the development projects would provide substantial relief to the citizens.

Last week, the LDA officials gave a presentation on the Tramway Transit Project to the chief minister.

CM’s spokesperson Rafiullah said the LDA had given the presentation of the project to be undertaken under the public-private partnership. He said the authorities were directed to discuss the project with other departments and include their input and complete the modalities as soon as possible.

LDA spokesperson Ishtiaq told Dawn that the chief minister had given the approval to work on the feasibility of the project.

He said the project would be developed under public-private partnership.

“The LDA authorities would soon complete other modalities of the project present these for approval,” he said.

The 19-kilometre project would start from Thokar Niaz Beg and end at Harbanspura. It would cost Rs69 billion and would be completed in 24 to 36 months. The project would benefit around 40,000 passengers daily and pay back in 40 years.

The tram service is sustainable, efficient, human friendly and most desired urban project and used as a transport facility globally. The tram service would also connect all mass transit lines right at central locations.

The tram service which had been running in the 1960s in Karachi is considered to be a safe mode of transport in the metropolitan cities. The service is also running successfully in several countries of Europe and other continents.

Earlier, Punjab Minister for Transport Jahanzeb Khan Khichi floated the idea to launch the tram service in Lahore in 2019. He had visited Czech Republic and held meetings with some transport firms specialising in manufacturing and launching trams in various countries through joint ventures.

A JV comprising Czech Republic’s Inekon Group and China’s CRSC had visited Lahore and surveyed various routes two years ago and also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tram service with the transport department.

According to the MoU, the JV will work with the Lahore Transport Company (LTC) to improve the public transport sector in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2022