A joint venture led by VEDA AMAZA has won the bid for the procurement, operations, and maintenance of the Lahore Metro at a significantly lower rate.
According to Chief Minister Punjab, Usman Buzdar, Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMTA) has agreed the new contract of Lahore Metro at a rate of Rs. 304 per kilometer.
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In September 2012, PMTA and Albayrak Group, a Turkish conglomerate and the current operator of the metro bus service, had signed an 8-year contract of Lahore Metro at a rate of Rs. 368 per kilometer. According to CM Punjab, had the contract been renewed at the same USD rate as 2012, the per kilometer rate would have been Rs. 532. Hence the govt has reduced the rate by almost 43%.
Albayrak Group had made a bid of Rs. 324 per kilometer to renew the contract for the Lahore Metro. However, it lost to VEDA AMAZA’s bid of Rs. 304 per kilometer.
VEDA AMAZA will take control of the procurement, operations, and maintenance of the Lahore Metro after 6 months. Till then, Albayrak Group will remain in charge of the Lahore Metro.
Previously, Albayrak Group briefed PMTA that Metro buses used in public transport across the world including Turkey have an average life span of 12 years.
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Since 2012, operations at the Lahore Metro project have remained suspended for almost 12 months on account of strikes, public holidays, and the coronavirus lockdown.
As a result, the buses of the Lahore Metro have operated for only 7 years and can remain functional for the next five years, allowing the exchequer to save significant financial resources.
