Wednesday, February 07, 2007
:flag: Deal signed for rail link to Sino-Pak border :ChinaFlag:
* Tender for pre-feasibility report on Lahore-Rawalpindi bullet train to be given to Austrian and Spanish firms next week
LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways (PR) has signed an accord with Chinese firms for a pre-feasibility study ââ¬â made ahead of the project concept (PC-I) report ââ¬â on a rail link between Havelian in Pakistan and the Khunjrab Pass on the Pak-China border, said Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed at a press conference here on Tuesday.
The distance between Havelian and the Pak-China border pass is around 750 kilometres, and the link is expected to increase trade between the two countries.
Ahmed said the ministry had granted a tender for the report to the Dongfang Electric Corporation and Second Survey and Design Institute of China, on President Pervez Musharrafââ¬â¢s directive. ââ¬ÅBoth companies will prepare the pre-feasibility report within nine months at a cost of around Rs 700 million,ââ¬Â he said. ââ¬ÅA tender for a pre-feasibility report on the Lahore-Rawalpindi bullet train project will be given to Austrian and Spanish firms next week. This report will be completed in nine months, and will cost Rs 250 million.ââ¬Â
He said the ministry would invite tenders for the privatisation of the Railwaysââ¬â¢ five power stations next week. He said it had also been planned to auction five more commercial plots of the Railways for five-star hotels, and the government was looking to investors from Dubai, Qatar and Saudi Arabia for participation in the bidding.
The minister said that the Indian Railways authorities had assured Pakistan that the Khokrapar-Munabao train service would be launched on February 17. He said Pakistan railways had spent a large sum on the track for this service.
Replying to a question, Ahmed said that a Bahawalpur incident in which six children were overrun by Karachi Express was a result of parents and localsââ¬â¢ negligence.
ââ¬ÅTo prevent such incidents, the authorities are planning to seek proposals on the construction of gates at 4,000 railway crossings. Proposals on the construction of 300 underpasses and fencing along railway tracks that pass through thickly populated areas will be presented at the next cabinet meeting,ââ¬Â he said.
ââ¬ÅThe ministry has directed all Railways staffers and policemen not to allow passengers to travel on roofs of trains.ââ¬Â
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\02\07\story_7-2-2007_pg7_29
:flag: Deal signed for rail link to Sino-Pak border :ChinaFlag:
* Tender for pre-feasibility report on Lahore-Rawalpindi bullet train to be given to Austrian and Spanish firms next week
LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways (PR) has signed an accord with Chinese firms for a pre-feasibility study ââ¬â made ahead of the project concept (PC-I) report ââ¬â on a rail link between Havelian in Pakistan and the Khunjrab Pass on the Pak-China border, said Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed at a press conference here on Tuesday.
The distance between Havelian and the Pak-China border pass is around 750 kilometres, and the link is expected to increase trade between the two countries.
Ahmed said the ministry had granted a tender for the report to the Dongfang Electric Corporation and Second Survey and Design Institute of China, on President Pervez Musharrafââ¬â¢s directive. ââ¬ÅBoth companies will prepare the pre-feasibility report within nine months at a cost of around Rs 700 million,ââ¬Â he said. ââ¬ÅA tender for a pre-feasibility report on the Lahore-Rawalpindi bullet train project will be given to Austrian and Spanish firms next week. This report will be completed in nine months, and will cost Rs 250 million.ââ¬Â
He said the ministry would invite tenders for the privatisation of the Railwaysââ¬â¢ five power stations next week. He said it had also been planned to auction five more commercial plots of the Railways for five-star hotels, and the government was looking to investors from Dubai, Qatar and Saudi Arabia for participation in the bidding.
The minister said that the Indian Railways authorities had assured Pakistan that the Khokrapar-Munabao train service would be launched on February 17. He said Pakistan railways had spent a large sum on the track for this service.
Replying to a question, Ahmed said that a Bahawalpur incident in which six children were overrun by Karachi Express was a result of parents and localsââ¬â¢ negligence.
ââ¬ÅTo prevent such incidents, the authorities are planning to seek proposals on the construction of gates at 4,000 railway crossings. Proposals on the construction of 300 underpasses and fencing along railway tracks that pass through thickly populated areas will be presented at the next cabinet meeting,ââ¬Â he said.
ââ¬ÅThe ministry has directed all Railways staffers and policemen not to allow passengers to travel on roofs of trains.ââ¬Â
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\02\07\story_7-2-2007_pg7_29