Tag: Peshawar BRT

  • Pakistan’s first bicycle-sharing system launched in Peshawar

    Pakistan’s first bicycle-sharing system launched in Peshawar

    TransPeshawar, which manages the bus rapid system in Peshawar, on Thursday launched a public sharing bicycle system, ZU Bicycle to further facilitate citizens traveling through Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

    Read more – KP health coverage: PM announces Rs10 lacs per family every year

    The launch ceremony, held at the University of Peshawar, was attended by Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra, KP Minister for Transport Shah Muhammad Wazir, Advisor to Chief Minister on Science and Technology Ziaullah Bangash, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Kamran Bangash and other officials of TransPeshawar.

    Sharing pictures from the launch on social media, Jhagra encouraged citizens to use the first public sharing bicycle system.

    “Pakistan’s first bicycle sharing system is now open for public use in Peshawar. If you live in Hayatabad, or work or study in the University Campus area, use any of 360 bikes at 30+ stations to get around, be green, and be healthy. Remember to take care of public assets responsibly,” said the minister, adding: “I tried it out. So should you.”

    All the required arrangements have been made and as many as 360 bicycles have been stationed at the transit centers across the city.

    Interested riders may register for the ZU Bicycles at TransPeshawar’s sharing system as follows:

    • Get their CNICs verified at a NADRA E-Sahulat Center.
    • Sign an agreement of the terms and conditions for the use of the bicycles.
    • Bring their original CNICs with photocopies.
    • Deposit a refundable security fee of Rs. 3000.
    • Deposit a membership fee at a ZU station.
    • Only one registration is permissible under one CNIC.

    The following membership fare breakdown will be applicable on single-day/bi-weekly/monthly passes.

    The membership fee expires in accordance with relevant packages as per the BRT regulations.

    Individuals who are members of the ZU bicycle Sharing System can use the facility as per the following:

    • A single-day pass is valid for 24 hours.
    • A bi-weekly pass is valid for 14 days.
    • A monthly pass is valid for 30 days.

    Fare Deduction Mechanism

    • The amount in the ZU card or in the ZU mobile app can be used for both the bus fare (BRT) and bicycle usage.
    • With the ZU card, a passenger will be able to release a bicycle from the dock by simply tapping on the Validator/Dock (system) at the transit center.
    • For docking, passengers will be required to tap their ZU cards on the Validator/Dock (system).

    The system will measure the time of use and will deduct the fare/usage fee in accordance with the chosen payment plan. If the available balance is less than the deductible amount, passengers are allowed a one-time option to dock the bicycle and pay the remaining amount the next time.

    Travel Condition

    • Passengers must have a minimum balance of Rs 50 in their ZU cards.
    • The ZU card is to be tapped during entry and exit from the service to complete a transaction.

    Meanwhile, TransPeshawar reserves the right to block ZU cards in case of unpaid loans. In this regard, passengers looking to reinstate/reset their cards are required to visit the KIOSK website and pay their pending loans with penalties.

    When using the ZU app, customers must tap the Entry while releasing a bicycle from the dock. If a user loses a bicycle in their possession, they will have to pay Rs. 60 per hour until the full amount is paid in compensation to TransPeshawar.

    Penalty Brief

    As per the company’s guidelines, a bicycle will be considered lost if it is not returned within 72 hours. If the bicycle is lost, the refundable security will be forfeited. For compensation, the customer will be required to pay service charges at the rate of Rs. 60 per hour for up to 200 hours.

    TransPeshawar also reserves the right to block cards if the service charges are not paid in full, or in the event of misuse.

  • Another Peshawar BRT bus malfunctions

    Another Peshawar BRT bus malfunctions

    Days after the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transport resumed services after a month-long hiatus, another one of its buses broke down near Firdous Station, Peshawar, on Wednesday.

    Dunya News reported that a crane was called by the authorities to remove the bus from the track after it malfunctioned midway.

    This is not the first a BRT bus broke down. Last month, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had to order an investigation after multiple BRT buses caught fire. The TransPeshawar, the government-owned company set up to manage bus operations, temporarily suspended the service in the wake of these fires.

    A subsequent report had revealed the fire incidents in the buses were caused by the malfunctioning of a motor controller installed between hybrid batteries and electric motors.

    However, after a thorough investigation, the bus service was resumed on Oct 24, after 38 days. A statement issued by the TransPeshawar at the time said that the service was launched on Saturday morning and would continue from 6am to 10pm.

    It said it had also launched express bus service, which would begin from Chamkani and make stops at Sardar Ghari, Lahori Adda, Hashtnagri, Malik Saad, Khyber Bazaar, Dabgari Garden, Saddar Bazaar, Peshawar University, Mall of Hayatabad and Karkhano Market.

    The BRT bus service was launched on Aug 13 by Prime Minister Imran Khan amid much fanfare. However, it was suspended on Sept 16 in the wake of four fire incidents in buses.

  • KYA BOLA? (Aug 10): ‘Sir, NAB k khilaaf nahi bolna’ to Bilawal getting a Peshawar BRT card

    KYA BOLA? (Aug 10): ‘Sir, NAB k khilaaf nahi bolna’ to Bilawal getting a Peshawar BRT card

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on August 10, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Sir, NAB K Khilaaf Nahi Bolna’
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_FSz7_9I4o

    It has been reported by Daily Jang that Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan was spotted telling his boss, Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar, to not speak against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in response to a journalist’s question during a press conference.

    “NAB k khilaaf nahi bolna,” he was quoted as saying.

    ‘Pakistan Ki Shanaakht Tabah Ho Rahi Hai’

    Daily Jang has quoted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman as saying that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is ruining Pakistan’s image. “Hukmaraan Pakistan ki shandar shanaakht tabah kr rahay hain,” he reportedly said.

    Bilawal Gets Peshawar BRT Card

    It has been reported by Daily Dunya that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Transport Minister Shah Muhammad Wazir has sent a travel card for Peshawar metro to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari over his criticism against the delays that the project faced amid rising costs. “Umeed hai Sindh hakoomat bhi Green Bus ka aik card mujhe bheje gi,” the minister said further.

  • KYA BOLA? (Aug 6): ‘Martial law se behtar Angrezo ki hukoomat hai’ to ‘substandard’ construction work of Peshawar BRT

    KYA BOLA? (Aug 6): ‘Martial law se behtar Angrezo ki hukoomat hai’ to ‘substandard’ construction work of Peshawar BRT

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on August 6, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Martial Law Se Behtar Angrezo Ki Hukoomat Hai’

    It has been reported by Daily Dunya that Supreme Court’s Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is known for being a critic of certain quarters, has taken notice of irregularities in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and remarked “Marshal law se behtar hai hukoomat Angrezo ko de di jaaye.”

    ‘Kashmir Aik Namukamal Agenda Hai’

    Daily Jang has quoted Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar as saying “Kashmir, Taqseeme Hind ka namukammal agenda hai. Aaj maqbooza Kashmir Pakistan k naqshay mein shaamil hua hai, kal yeh Pakistan ka hissa hoga.”

    Buzdar was referring to Pakistan’s new political map approved by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Tuesday. It shows the troubled valley as a part of Pakistan.

    ‘Substandard’ Construction Work of Peshawar BRT

    According to Daily Dunya, Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is assisting the construction of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, has identified “substandard” construction work.

    The Peshawar BRT is rather infamous for its incompletion as the authorities concerned have failed to meet deadlines time and again. The government has now issued yet another deadline for completion of the much-delayed project, the cost of which has also swollen over the years.

  • Company responsible for Peshawar BRT’s construction gets another three projects in Islamabad

    Company responsible for Peshawar BRT’s construction gets another three projects in Islamabad

    The firm responsible for the construction of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project that lies in limbo amid several delays and rising costs, has won the contracts for three mega projects of the federal capital by submitting the lowest bids, much below the estimated cost, The News reported.

    According to reports, Maqbool Associates-Calsons joint venture has been awarded by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) the construction of the Rawal Dam interchange (Rs1.2b, 11pc less than the estimated cost); expansion of Korang Bridge (Rs628.5m, 17pc less than the estimated cost) and the PWD Underpass (Rs420m, 19pc less than the estimated cost). These constructions will cost Rs2.248b.

    The official record shows that in its case against Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiana Housing Scheme, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been betting on Calsons. The NAB has portrayed Calsons as a well-meaning firm that had won a contract on merit to develop the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme, but was wronged by the Shehbaz Sharif administration. The then chief minister was alleged to have secured Calsons’ Ashiana contract cancelled in order to give it to a choice party.

    Officials said Calsons came into prominence when it won the contract to remodel and widen the Kashmir Highway, a major artery of Islamabad. Because of delays, the project became a festering wound during the tenure of the last Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government in 2008-2013 and the capital’s residents faced untold hardships. The project was finally completed by the subsequent government.

    According to officials, the Calsons fell on the wrong side of the Punjab government under Shehbaz Sharif when, in 2013, the then chief minister received electronic evidence of the illegal award of the Ashiana contract to a joint venture involving Calsons by the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC).

    Shehbaz Sharif referred the case to a committee, led by the then Punjab secretary finance Tariq Bajwa, who later became governor of the State Bank of Pakistan. The committee sought a further probe into the matter, following which Shehbaz Sharif referred the matter to the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE). Consequently, the Ashiana contract awarded to Calsons was also cancelled.

    The cancellation was done by the PLDC Board in September 2013. Calsons approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the PLDC decision. The LHC ordered arbitration as per the contract between the two parties. As a result, the contractor was awarded Rs5.9 million as compensation. Hence the first contract ended.

    Later, in 2015, Calsons was accused of wrongdoings in the Orange Line train project. Officials said that Calsons was accused of violations of contract, leading to the termination of its joint venture with Maqbool Associates. The company was blacklisted and a penalty of Rs902 million was imposed on it by the Shehbaz Sharif administration.

    According to officials, the Maqbool-Calsons joint venture made a bid for Package II (Chauburji to Ali Town) of the Orange Line. The Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) had entrusted the civil works of the project to the LDA. They said that the progress of work by the Maqbool-Calsons joint venture remained poor from the outset, and added that the contractor did not pay heed to repeated verbal and written instructions of the LDA and failed to meet its obligations under various contractual clauses. Resultantly, the provincial government terminated the contract and forfeited and en-cashed its bank guarantee of Rs903.289 million, the record showed.

    Officials said that Punjab administration, after terminating the contract, charged Maqbool-Calsons with violations, including refusal to hand over material (reinforcement bars, crush gravel, pre-stressing wire) worth Rs400 million, which had been purchased with the money advanced by the LDA. On the LDA’s complaint, the ACE lodged a first information report (FIR) with the police for building shorter piles. The Punjab government imposed a five-year ban on the contractors from participating in LDA tenders under Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules. It also sent a reference to the Pakistan Engineering Council seeking the blacklisting of the firm.

    When contacted, Calson owner Chaudhry Amir Latif told The News that they would complete all the three projects of the federal capital within the stipulated time. He said the company won the contracts for being the lowest bidders.

    To a question, he said that the matters relating to the Ashiana scheme have been settled and closed. Amir Latif said the issues pertaining to the Orange Line train project including the forfeiture of their bank guarantee were being looked into by arbitrators as provided in the contract. The arbitration, which is in final stages, will sort out the contention between the company and the LDA, he said.

    To another question, the Calson owner said that they have concluded the work of the Peshawar BRT assigned to them and have been issued the completion certificate.

    He said the delay in the completion of the given work was not caused by them but it occurred due to frequent changes in the design by the consultant, which consumed almost a year. In addition, he said, the land acquisition was also a major issue. He pointed out that the caretaker government had also been in place after the award of contract to them, suggesting that this interregnum also affected the pace of work.

    Amir Latif said that the government authorities have taken over the completed work of the BRT and were doing the trial run of buses. He said the COVID-19 pandemic has also been a major reason behind the non-start of the full-fledged start of the bus service.

  • Fare for still incomplete Peshawar bus project to start at Rs10

    Fare for still incomplete Peshawar bus project to start at Rs10

    Fare for the much-delayed Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), an additional Rs4.28 billion is still needed for the completion of which, will be kept at a minimum Rs10 per trip, a private media outlet has quoted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government officials as saying.

    According to reports, it was proposed by the KP government during a steering committee meeting chaired by KP additional chief secretary, wherein all participants agreed that the minimum fare from point A to point B should be kept as low as Rs10, while the maximum fare should be Rs50.

    While a majority has agreed to the recommendation as per which ticket pricing will vary with the distance and the number of stations travelled, some have suggested keeping a fixed ticket price.

    The final decision will be taken by KP Chief Minister (CM) Mahmood Khan.

    It merits a mention that Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) had in February written to the KP government a letter stating that the team leader of BRT had prepared PC1 for the revised fund. It added that Rs1.5bn of the additional funds will be spent on the route between bus station numbers 19 to 31, while Rs980m will be spent on the route between bus station 1 to 8.

    In addition, a total of Rs1.5bn will be spent on Trans Peshawar office, bus depot and parks. Similarly, Rs1.35bn would be required for consultant supervision.

    KP Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai, while talking to media, had said that the cost of BRT has been increased by Rs4bn, with which the cost of BRT has touched Rs70bn. He had added that the provincial government will provide the additional funds for the project, the approval of which will be taken from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

    Yousafzai had also said that the BRT project would be completed in April this year, the credit of which goes to CM Khan. “We will complete the project in March and it would cost Rs35bn,” he had said, adding that despite being a third-generation project, it would cost less as compared to Lahore’s BRT project which cost up to Rs 40 billion in 2011.