The Vehicle Operating Company service provider / operator in Peshawar BRT (also referred as Zu BRT) will be responsible for fueling of buses, maintenance of buses, the hiring of drivers and allied staff and their training to ensure smooth bus operation.
“Vehicle Operating Companies is one of key component in executing the operations of any Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Operating BRT is a complex system globally and is usually executed via outsourcing to specialized operators. TransPeshawar will be hiring two key service providers for operations of BRT namely – Vehicle Operating Company, and BRT System Control and Good Services. The Vehicle Operating Company service provider / operator in Peshawar BRT system (also referred as Zu BRT) will be responsible for fueling of buses, maintenance of buses, the hiring of drivers and allied staff and their training to ensure smooth bus operation.” said TransPeshawar representative in a statement issued today.
Vehicle Operating Company for Chamkani depot is selected based on the competitive process as per KPPRA rules. In 12th Board meeting of TransPeshawar, the board unanimously approved the Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service Limited, as an operator for Chamkani Depot. In addition to running its intercity bus services across Pakistan, the private firm is also operating Multan BRT System and Feeder Routes for Lahore BRT System.
Two depots, Chamkani and Hayatabad, are constructed for Peshawar BRT and will be equipped with facilities for fueling, cleaning, vehicle maintenance workshops with routine spare parts for Zu buses. TransPeshawar will share bus trip schedule and service provider will operate accordingly. Chamkani depot is a major depot of Peshawar BRT and more than half of buses (128) will be assigned to this company. These include 93 number of 12-meter buses, 35 number of articulated (18-meter) buses and facilitating passengers on main routes and two feeder routes.
“We have built-in penalties in the contract to safeguard the best interest of Zu passengers. These include financial penalties against behavioral issues and non-compliance with key performance indicators (KPIs). Some of critical KPIs include road safety, timely and accurate operations, ensuring good conditions of the fleet, transparency in financial and reporting, good behavior with passengers, compliance with gender plan and adherence to environmental guidelines. Most of these penalties are set as percentages of monthly contract value.” To encourage participation of women passengers, VoC is supposed to hire 15 percent of female staff. Also, the operator will be bound to hire locals especially those who have been engaged in the public transport system in Peshawar.
BRT operators are usually paid on basis of per kilometer of buses run, that becomes one of the key factors in its selection beyond other factors such as company experience, credentials, and capacity to handle such operations. The Peshawar BRT has finalized a rate of Rs. 177 per kilometer. The operator will be paid on basis of a number of kilometers run by all their buses in a month. The duration of the Contract is twelve (12) years with Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service.
TransPeshawar is a company set up under section 42 of the Company’s Act, 2017, and is responsible operation and maintenance of Bus Rapid Transit in Peshawar.