Karachi Circular Railway to be revived by 2011
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways has decided to revive Karachi Circular Railway System (KCR) by 2011, an official of the Ministry said on Wednesday.

The decision to this effect has been taken in a high-level meeting presided over by the Minister for Railways Sardar Mahtab Ahmed Khan, he said.

The official said that Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) would be incharge of the project being undertaken with the assistance of Japanese company JICA, which he added would prepare feasibility study of the project.

The Government of Japan would provide a soft loan of $ 872 million which would be payable in 40 years. The project would be executed in three years on Japanese and European style. The 50 km KCR will have 21 underpasses and overhead bridges.

The official said around seven lakh passengers of 23 different stations of the city would get benefit from the project daily.

He said that under the project 246 trains would ply in the city adding that each train had the capacity of carrying 1,236 passengers.

“The track for these trains will be of international standard and they will be available at each terminal after three minutes,” he said.

The official said it had also been decided to launch this project on turn key basis. The contractors would operate KCR initially for two years and after that it would be handed over to Pakistan Railways, he added.

Besides maintenance of KCR, the contractor would be responsible to train Pakistan Railways’ staff, he added.

He said that Sindh police would provide security to foreign engineers and other personnel, deputed to commission the project.

The KUTC has also been authorized to finalize financial modalities with local banks. The Board of Directors will be expanded and professionals from the private sectors will be included in it (board), he said.

The official said that the project remained neglected for the last 25 years but the present government had accorded top priority to it.

He said under the project modern commuter system was being introduced which would help solve many problems of the people. “The project will provide a convenient, safe, fast and dignified mode of traveling to commuters,” he remarked.●