SQW China to undertake 12-mth study

SQW China to undertake 12-mth study

6th June, 2012

Consultants to research on sustainable land transport system

THE CSPS, in cooperation with the Ministry of Communication and Development, has commissioned a consultant, SQW China, for a study entitled “Review to Formulate a Roadmap and Draft Masterplan for a Sustainable Land Transportation System” in Brunei.

The 12-month study will look into ways towards the formation of a viable and sustainable national land transportation system, said Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) Chairman Dato Paduka Hj Roselan Hj Daud prior to the signing ceremony yesterday at the Sukma Indera Hall. “As we all know, under Wawasan 2035, Brunei aims to optimise its future economic and social development, which requires a national effort and needs to be tackled at all angles,” he said.

He added: “We are all cognizant that there are some pressing issues. Among others, a limited public transport network, high dependence on private vehicles, increasing traffic congestion, quite high levels of road casualties and fatalities.”

The chairman said that there is a need to have better integration between transportation and land use planning, better connectivity and accessibility between district and rural areas, as well as improvements in regional and cross-border transport linkages, and the reduction of high energy consumption in the transportation sector, without forgetting the environmental impact.

“We need a workable system, one which offers practical choices and solutions for the transportation requirements of both planners and end-users,” Dato Hj Roselan said. When refining the terms of references (TOR) of the study, board members of the CSPS had sourced the overarching goals of the Wawasan 2035 as guidance in their deliberation.

“This National Land Transportation Masterplan will be highly important because it is in line with the strategies of Wawasan 2035 on infrastructural development, as well as economic development, business development, and institutional strengthening,” Dato Hj Roselan said.

Moreover, it is hoped that the implementation of a well-designed Land Transport Masterplan, one which takes into account the community aspirations of the Sultanate’s society, will not only help increase efficiency in the movement of people and commodities, but also improve economic growth and overall productivity.

“Hence, at very early stages, CSPS has already sought crucial partnership from the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Development. Together, our partners have been instrumental in framing the objectives of the project and the appointment of the appropriate consultancy group with substantial technical and policy expertise to conduct the study,” he explained.

The CSPS has also set up a Project Advisory Committee whose role is to monitor the study to ensure that it will be on the right track for the country’s development needs. “Today’s event is only the start of a 12-month long project. The CSPS will be organising a number of stakeholder forums and collaborations, more importantly, to include the wider community who will be intended transportation users such as schools, businesses, parents and youths,” he said.

SQW China, a UK based consortium, is an economic and management consultancy in the area of public policy, economic and social development.The firm is also involved with the Brunei Agro Technology Park. The signing was held at CSPS’s headquarters where Executive Director, Dato Paduka Dr Hj Ismail Hj Duraman signed on behalf of CSPS, while SQW China was represented by its Managing Director, Gary Ho. On hand to witness the event was Communications Minister Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar.

Source: The Brunei Times