LAHORE, Sept 6: Seven investors have shown interest in the development of a modern general bus-stand at Adventpura on Multan Road at an estimated cost of Rs400 million on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis but sought guarantees and clarifications from the City District Government on a number of points.

Security of investment is the issue about which the prospective investors have shown the maximum concern. They want the CDG to clarify who would guarantee the security of their investment in case of changes of government in future. They have also asked the CDG to clarify when it would acquire additional land and make 400 kanals available for the bus-stand as only 240 kanals were currently available at the site.

The prospective investors have also inquired about the future of bus-stands operating on the Bund Road. Apparently, they want the private bus-stops on Bund Road wound up to eliminate the possibility of revenue losses. The CDG, too, would have to review its decision to develop a bus-stand at Sikandria Colony near the private bus-stands to satisfy the investors.

The prospective investors have also asked the CDG to clarify if they would be allowed to mortgage the bus-stand land for procuring loans for its development. They also want to know who will collect revenue on account of facilities other than the bus service. They also want the CDG to build the road that will connect the proposed bus-stand to the Multan Road as well as the underpass under Multan Road that will connect it to the Motorway interchange.

The CDG had invited bids for the development of a new general bus-stand on Multan Road to provide facilities for the arrival and departure of 4,000 buses daily. The proposed bus-stand will have 50 bays for inter-city buses and idle-parking facility for 340 buses. The CDG also wants workshops, a bus-washing facility, a driving school, the motor vehicle examiners office, a filling station, a restaurant, a fire station and first-aid facilities at the proposed bus-stand.