LAHORE, Dec 10: Platform, a subsidiary of the Turkish firm Al-Buraq, is set to takeover the Metro Bus System (MBS) operation, as the Punjab government has decided to outsource all major components of the project to different firms.

Al-Buraq is already working in the city on various projects of cleanliness, urban transport and infrastructure development in collaboration with the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), Lahore Transport Company (LTC) and some other government institutions. Though it was initially planned to handover the MBS operation to the LTC after its completion by the end of December, the government dropped the idea later keeping in view a lack of local experience and skill to deal with operational matters of the project.

Official sources told Dawn on Monday that the decision to outsource MBS operations to Platform was taken in the light of the firm’s experience in successfully running the Bus Rapid Transit Project in Istanbul. The firm, as per the agreement, would be responsible for running and maintaining a fleet of 45 buses running on 27-kilometre long route/dedicated track from Gajjumatta to Shahdara.

An official said the firm would run a workshop at Gajjumatta exclusively for repair/maintenance of the fleet. Besides, the company would be responsible for monitoring of the fleet on track/route through a special control centre, automated announcement of bus stoppages and other safety devices in association with various local agencies.

The official said some representatives of the company arrived in Lahore on Monday to visit under-construction portions of the project and finalise a plan to start the operation. They would talk to senior officials of the Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMBA), a government body entrusted with monitoring MBS activities, about recruitment and training of drivers.

The official said the LWMC would be responsible for the cleanliness of buses and their pathway. Other components of the project like security, ticketing and elevators have also been outsourced, he added.

The official acknowledged that people were facing problems because of the bus project, but said that they would soon benefit from a modern bus service.