Lahore Metro Train Orange Line to be Constructed on BOT basis

[Hyde]

@Aether .. the experts have done feasibility study and they have recommended that for orange line. Green line will have much more underground stations.
Are you sure politics influenced the outcome of the feasibility study? It was done by MVA(hongkong based), same group operates in India too.
Cost overrrun is natural in any big project. It always feels you should have taken good decisions yesterday and bad decisions never.

Of course it was politically motivated decision. There were couple of projects cancelled, postponed or delayed after PML-N tookover in Punjab. One example is Lahore Metro had gone beyond the feasibility study and the construction work had began. There were funds allocated for this project and were timely being utilised. Then the project was postponed by Shahbaz Sharif government all of a sudden due to lack of fund.

The high court in Pakistan disqualified Shahbaz Sharif due to former cases and Governor rule was imposed in Lahore back in 2009. When Salman Taseer took over he claimed that the funds were still available for Lahore Metro project and failed to understand the postponement of this project, so he ordered to resume work on Lahore metro. He repeatedly said that he failed to comprehend the logic behind delaying or postponing the Lahore Metro project after it had already entered the contruction phase and the funds were available for this purpose but after the High Court's decision was overturned and Shahbaz Sharif took over. Instead of carrying on or postponing the project, he cancelled it citing lack of funds.

 

[livingdead]

Of course it was politically motivated decision. There were couple of projects cancelled, postponed or delayed after PML-N tookover in Punjab. One example is Lahore Metro had gone beyond the feasibility study and the construction work had began. There were funds allocated for this project and were timely being utilised. Then the project was postponed by Shahbaz Sharif government all of a sudden due to lack of fund.

The high court in Pakistan disqualified Shahbaz Sharif due to former cases and Governor rule was imposed in Lahore back in 2009. When Salman Taseer took over he claimed that the funds were still available for Lahore Metro project and failed to understand the postponement of this project, so he ordered to resume work on Lahore metro. He repeatedly said that he failed to comprehend the logic behind delaying or postponing the Lahore Metro project after it had already entered the contruction phase and the funds were available for this purpose but after the High Court's decision was overturned and Shahbaz Sharif took over. Instead of carrying on or postponing the project, he cancelled it citing lack of funds.

I am not saying the project might not be far from controversy or political influence. Look at 3rd runway fiasco or HS2. The debate is going on and on.
Whatever happened is the past. At this point, the outcome of feasibility study is ready(since 2008 I think) and I dont think they should delay it any further. Any new design decision will require rethink, may be by same consultancy or another, which wll take time. Only reason one can oppose is corruption charges.

BTW we have not seen the end of it. If this one drags for 5 years, you will thank sharif for being visionary and at least operationalizing metro bus, till the rail is ready.

 

[Hyde]

I am not saying the project might not be far from controversy or political influence. Look at 3rd runway fiasco or HS2. The debate is going on and on.
Whatever happened is the past. At this point, the outcome of feasibility study is ready(since 2008 I think) and I dont think they should delay it any further. Any new design decision will require rethink, may be by same consultancy or another, which wll take time. Only reason one can oppose is corruption charges.

BTW we have not seen the end of it. If this one drags for 5 years, you will thank sharif for being visionary and at least operationalizing metro bus, till the rail is ready.

I actually defend both metro projects with reservations. I am always up for any kind of development work in Pakistan rather than wasting decades for forming consensus and not doing anything on ground. PML-N government has few good habits that they at least take decisions and work on projects. If they do corruption, its mostly interlinked with projects and not like the whole money disappeared nowhere but the people does get something to see in return.

But don't you find it funny that people will be coming out of Metrobus to continue their journey on Metro train as both lines were child of the same old project of "Metro Train". Nevertheless, it will be helpful for improving congestion and public transportation so it should be welcomed (with reservations)

 

[livingdead]

I actually defend both metro projects with reservations. I am always up for any kind of development work in Pakistan rather than wasting decades for forming consensus and not doing anything on ground. PML-N government has few good habits that they at least take decisions and work on projects. If they do corruption, its mostly interlinked with projects and not like the whole money disappeared nowhere but the people does get something to see in return.

But don't you find it funny that people will be coming out of Metrobus to continue their journey on Metro train as both lines were child of the same old project of "Metro Train". Nevertheless, it will be helpful for improving congestion and public transportation so it should be welcomed (with reservations)

most cities have integrated transport systems, with high density traffic being taken by metro rail, and bus working as feeder from less important cachement areas into station.
I guess there was urgent need for a metro bus because it can be made much faster, till a rail network is ready. (also nobody knows future, how long metro rail will take, metro bus was easy to deliver).
When metro rail is ready, the metro bus routes can be thrown open to public, if needed. The buses will still operate. I dont see any waste of money there.

 

[I M Sikander]

You may differ with SS politics, but he is truly the best CM when it comes to development.
He will surely complete this project in time.