LAHORE: Private firms have finally taken over commercial operations of four trains after their bids were found higher than those of their competitors in the bidding process.

“Two of the four companies have started operating two trains after they deposited the requisite advance money to the railways exchequer, besides completing other formalities,” Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amir Ali Baloch told Dawn on Tuesday.

“The two other companies will also start running operations of the two remaining trains under the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode, as they are completing various legal formalities, including deposition of the first weekly installment of the total bid offered by them,” he explained.

According to him, Chenab Express (135-up/136-down), Mehran Express (149-up/150-down) are currently being run by the private firms. Similarly, Awam Express (13-up/14-down) and Mehar Express (127-up/128-down) will soon start operation under the PPP mode.

During the last month’s first week, total seven companies qualified for submitting the financial bids after their technical bids were accepted. Of these, four firms’ financial bids were found to be above the benchmark fixed by the PR.

The trains offered for outsourcing in the first phase included Hazara Express (11-up/12-down), Awam Express (13-up/14-down), Karachi Express (15-up/16-down), Bahauddin Zakariya Express (25-up/26-down), Mehar Express (127-up/128-down), Sukkur Express (145-up/146-down), Chenab Express (135-up/136-down), Mehran Express (149-up/150-down), Mohenjo Daro Passenger (213-up/214-down/local train), and Rawalpindi Passenger (267-up/268-down/local train).

Earlier, the PR had floated 22 trains in August for outsourcing, including Karakoram Express, Karachi Express, Awam Express, Green Line, Mehr Express, Chenab Express, Saman Sarkar Express, Mohenjo Daro Express, Pak Business, Bolan Mail, Thal Express, Sukkur Express, Marvi Express, Chaman Express, Hazara Express, Shalimar Express, Bahauddin Zakariya Express, Kohat Express, Mehran Express, Attock Express, Jand Express and Rawalpindi Express. However, the authorities canceled the bidding process, citing a lack of competitiveness due to participation of only three companies.

“The strategy to re-advertise the remaining six of the first phase’s 10 trains is underway these days. And I hope, we will outsource more trains in a combination of 3+3 (three long and three short distance trains),” CEO Mr Baloch said.

He said the outsourcing of the trains is a policy matter under which all trains’ commercial operations are to be outsourced.

To a question, he said the PR teams would, time to time, monitor the trains run by private firms in a bid to ensure provision of state of the art services, including hygienic food, cleanliness, surveillance and other facilities offered to the passengers.

SEALED: Various teams of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Tuesday sealed 152 properties on account of non-payment of penalty imposed on them for carrying out commercial activities unlawfully.

The separate teams also retrieved 100-kanal state land in China Scheme and Sabzazar in various operation, according to a spokesman.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2024