Im no fan of PML but an efficient transport system is essential for any growing economy. Efficient mobility makes it easier for large cities to utilize manpower. Lahore is the 2nd biggest city in the country, so to invest in Lahore makes sense as the growth of the city will seep out into the broader economy over time.
There is no doubt about it, but development at the cost of other place fuels migration to Lahore and putting more pressure. and lets talk about this transport system. IT WAS Green Line route of a LIGHT RAILWAY project that has everything almost same but buses instead of trains pulling on this long fly over, only changed because Showbaz has to finish it early and messed the whole light train project to bus. Do tell me if buses are better transport method compared to trains!
There is no doubt about it, but development at the cost of other place fuels migration to Lahore and putting more pressure. and lets talk about this transport system. IT WAS Green Line route of a LIGHT RAILWAY project that has everything almost same but buses instead of trains pulling on this long fly over, only changed because Showbaz has to finish it early and messed the whole light train project to bus. Do tell me if buses are better transport method compared to trains!
This.
the railway mass transit project was shelved just because of timelines. 3 saal sotay rahay. Aakhri saal yaad aaya. We need a mass transit system in Lahore. But rapid system was NOT the answer. No feasibility was carried out. (I know this because one of my elder cousins was involved and they were reluctant to push it initially because it was predicted that traffic system with struggle with buses)
So situation is now that almost 20 buses are already in workshops. Traffic on ferozpur road and modeltown is an unfathomable mess. Even MB's 55 minute timelines are missed by big margins.
once again, a system was needed but it should have been a more comprehensive one than this. But for election year, this one was completed.
There is no doubt about it, but development at the cost of other place fuels migration to Lahore and putting more pressure. and lets talk about this transport system. IT WAS Green Line route of a LIGHT RAILWAY project that has everything almost same but buses instead of trains pulling on this long fly over, only changed because Showbaz has to finish it early and messed the whole light train project to bus. Do tell me if buses are better transport method compared to trains!
I would have preferred the light rail myself, but at the same time, wouldnt the trains have been more expensive both in terms of up front cost and maintenance, along with required training? You have to crawl before you can walk, so a bus system seems like something that would allow the city govt to train its people in running a transit system, and then possibly expanding towards light rail in the future.
Secondly, investing in underdeveloped area is a good thing, but lets face it, cities are the engines of growth, this is where everyone is going to come regardless. If people are going to come no matter what, then you have to prepare for their arrival, otherwise you get Karachi as a result. innovation comes through cities not through the country side. Art, culture, science all come from the dynamic of the city, not the country side. There is a reason why there are more people living in cities today then in the rural areas.
And if simply investing in the rural towns and small cities would be enough to deter people from moving to large cities, then you wouldnt see massive cities like Tokyo or New York, London or Paris, all in countries that have well developed rural areas. And even in those places, all trains and all roads lead to some big city.
the railway mass transit project was shelved just because of timelines. 3 saal sotay rahay. Aakhri saal yaad aaya. We need a mass transit system in Lahore. But rapid system was NOT the answer. No feasibility was carried out. (I know this because one of my elder cousins was involved and they were reluctant to push it initially because it was predicted that traffic system with struggle with buses)
So situation is now that almost 20 buses are already in workshops. Traffic on ferozpur road and modeltown is an unfathomable mess. Even MB's 55 minute timelines are missed by big margins.
once again, a system was needed but it should have been a more comprehensive one than this. But for election year, this one was completed.
A more comprehensive system would have cost more money and that would have meant even less money outside of Lahore.
Feasibility study should have been done, but could have been worse. At least they have system they can work on now.
A more comprehensive system would have cost more money and that would have meant even less money outside of Lahore.
Feasibility study should have been done, but could have been worse. At least they have system they can work on now.
PML_Q launched a project. It was a lot more expensive than this. But it was more long term. And would have made more sense in the long run. Up front money was not going to be taken from punjab govt fund but ADB was willing to provide interest free loans for 10 years. It was a combination of underground and light rail system spread over lahore. This sytem was going to be completed in 6 years. And a proper feasibility report was made that would have enabled loan payment in 5 years considering the number of passesngers that were gonna utilize it.
If MB is going to be a stop gap replacement till we are ready for a light rail system then this is a bad investment because we have to pay turkish company 1 billion on monthly basis for each bus. If this was going to be a permanent solution, then they have ruined ferozpur road forever. The buses are struggling, traffic is struggling and overall execution is just bad considering scope and amount of the project involved.
I am a big fan of Metros. I even travel in metros in dubai because i love how efficient and quick they are. But Lahore MB will struggle in the long run, PML-N may not be around then and considering the trend in pakistan, maintenance will not be carried out by any new government and struggles will continue.
SS shoudl have invested more in health sector, betterment of hospitals (Rather than the popular demands of building new ones) and health reforms. He could have launched MB or a better more thought out transit project just after new elections. Would have served punjab more :)
PML_Q launched a project. It was a lot more expensive than this. But it was more long term. And would have made more sense in the long run. Up front money was not going to be taken from punjab govt fund but ADB was willing to provide interest free loans for 10 years. It was a combination of underground and light rail system spread over lahore. This sytem was going to be completed in 6 years. And a proper feasibility report was made that would have enabled loan payment in 5 years considering the number of passesngers that were gonna utilize it.
If MB is going to be a stop gap replacement till we are ready for a light rail system then this is a bad investment because we have to pay turkish company 1 billion on monthly basis for each bus. If this was going to be a permanent solution, then they have ruined ferozpur road forever. The buses are struggling, traffic is struggling and overall execution is just bad considering scope and amount of the project involved.
I am a big fan of Metros. I even travel in metros in dubai because i love how efficient and quick they are. But Lahore MB will struggle in the long run, PML-N may not be around then and considering the trend in pakistan, maintenance will not be carried out by any new government and struggles will continue.
SS shoudl have invested more in health sector, betterment of hospitals (Rather than the popular demands of building new ones) and health reforms. He could have launched MB or a better more thought out transit project just after new elections. Would have served punjab more :)
You may be right.... But still, its a start. They may yet come up with a way to relieve some of the traffic that was created as a result. Lets see.
If the countries economy doesnt improve overall, either of the systems would prove redundant. On the other hand, with an improved economy, perhaps the the Light rail system is still a possibility for the future.