KARACHI: 7 firms submit papers for rail-based transport
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, April 2: Seven foreign and local companies have submitted “expressions of interest” invited by the Karachi Mass Transit Programme for a rail-based mass transit system on built-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.
The KMTP had invited expressions of interest from the companies having experience in the job, and a total of 21 firms had acquired the documents.
Officials in the KMTP said the final date for submission was March 31 and seven companies had shown their interests in light-rail, mono-rail and magnetic train projects.
They said InterGlobe, MTrans Holding Sdn Bnd, Habibullah Associates, Ravi Global, China Mechanical Corporation, Swede-Bus Pakistan, and a joint venture of three companies — Infrastructure Development Company, Frontier Works Organization and PRAC, submitted the EoI.
The government had twice extended the date. First it was Feb 17 and then it was extended to March 10 as only two firms — MTrans of Malaysia and a consortium of German, Arab, Swiss company by the name of InterGlobe Commerce) had submitted their proposals by that time.
Officials in the KMTP said the City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has formed a seven-member committee to evaluate the EoI submitted by these companies and shortlist them.
The committee will be headed by DCO and its secretary will be DG KMTP. Other five members will be Brig S. S. A. Qasim, Izharul Haq, Saleem Azhar, S. M. H. Rizvi, and Shahabuddin.
The committee will submit its report to the City Nazim after evaluating the proposals and shortlisting the companies.
The criteria for selection would be technology/system offered by the companies, which would be less expensive and most feasible in accordance with the environment of the city.
Sources said although Maglev or Magno Train has recently been inaugurated in China where it has been running non-stop on a 34 kilometres long track, its fare was beyond the reach of the common man.
Its fare for only 34 kms non-stop journey in Pakistani currency is Rs2,200.
The KMTP for which the city government had issued international tenders included six proposed corridors of rail-based mass transit system in Karachi on BOT basis, adds PPI.
These six proposed corridors are:
Sohrab Goth to Tower (18 kms and its extension up to New Sabzimandi on a later phase); Orangi to Cantonment Station (12 kms); New Karachi to Shershah (17 kms); Karachi City to Landhi along the main rail-track (23 kms); Nagan Chowrangi to Korangi vis Rashid Minhas Road; Baldia-Cantonment Station via RCD Highway.
An official of the KMTP expressed delight that four, out of seven participating firms, are Pakistan-based.
