Multani transit rail system proposed, PM refers matter to economic affairs division
MULTAN, Jan 29 (APP)  - A proposal of Multani mono rail system to operate on a strong metallic beam over 18 feet above the city roads for city transportation was presented at a high level briefing chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here late on Saturday night.Commissioner Multan division Syed Mohammad Ali Gardezi presented the novel idea of mono train operating over head on five routes with four railway stations to facilitate the citizens at the briefing held at the local circuit house.The prime minister ordered that the proposed project be referred to ministry of economic affairs adding that state minister for economic affairs Ms Hina Rabbani Khar should look into the possibility of the project’s execution on Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis.
Commissioner said that the train would operate on five routes including Bosan Road-Judicial complex, Jinah road to Vehari Chowk, Chungi No 9 to university and two others. He pleaded that 72 educational institutions operating on the Bosan road and additional transportation facility to the citizen would help lessen traffic burden on the road.
MPAs and other officials supported the proposal and MPA Syed Nazim Hussain Shah termed it a good effort to beautify the Multan city and improving the local transportation facilities.Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Gilani issued instructions that  Rs 100 million funding be arranged to acquire 200 kanal piece of land for cancer treatment hospital near DHQ hospital Multan after he was informed that Rs 20 million funding was available for the purpose.
The prime minister was informed that work on construction of fly-overs was in full swing in the city and the level one fly over at Jinah Chowk (Chowk Kumharanwala) would be completed by March 23.
The fly-over at Chungi No 9 has already been completed while the Rs 1208 million fly-over at Chungi No 8 would be completed in April 2011. The Rs 603 million fly over at Chowk Naag Shah would be completed in July 2011.
Prime Minister was informed that about 95 per cent construction work of  Kalma Chowk fly-over has been completed while 55 per cent work on the fly over at Double Phatak has also been completed. These projects would be completed in May this year.
The prime minister stressed on completion of Faisalabad-Multan motorway within specified period.
He was informed that land acquisition process for 57-km long Multan-Khanewal section of the motorway was in the final stages, however, more funding was required to complete this process. This section of the motorway would cost Rs 16.3 billion.
The Prime Minister was informed that 70 per cent work on Rs 2153.5 million head Mohammadwala project has been completed and it would be fully completed by June 2011. The Rs 1616 million project of Musa Pak Shaheed bridge in Jalalpur Pirwala has been completed about 78 per cent and officials hoped it would be operational in May this year.
The Prime Minister was also given briefing on seven grid stations in Multan divisions involving a cost of Rs 1580 million, Rs 100 million project of Multan Dry Port Trust, primary health care schemes, DHQ hospital, cadet college, women university, and engineering university projects, besides improvement in departments and campus of Bahauddin Zakariya University scheme, northern and southern bypasses and city railway station.
Moreover, schemes included in the Multan city beautification plan were also discussed. They included Rs 4.47 million museum scheme, Rs 59.989 Ghanta Ghar market, around Rs 28 million schemes to build two mosques, Rs 2.079 million artisan centre, Rs 59.949 million Damdama (parapet) strengthening scheme at Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh, Rs 59.881 million scheme of fort wall, Rs 92.465 million Qasim fort landscaping, approach road to Darbar Musa Pak Shaheed (Rs 102.323 million), improvement of city gates, reconstruction of old gates which were now missing including Pak gate, Daulat gate, Lohari Gate, conservation of other old gates including Bohar gate, park at old city station.