KARACHI: Karachi Circular Railway will take a year to fully restore while steps are being taken in this regard, its Project Director Ameer Dawood said.
According to details, 24 bridges and underpasses will be constructed on Nazimabad to Gulshan-e-Iqbal railway track, after which the circular railway is likely to be fully restored.
After remaining non-functional for over 21 years, the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) was partially restored in November. The KCR track is based on 44 kilometres, including a 30km loop and 14km mainline.
It has a total of 20 stations, of which 15 are on the loop and five are on the mainline, and there are 24 level crossings on the entire track. The first phase of KCR project was revived from Karachi City to Orangi station.
The second phase will cater to the 7km track running from Orangi Station to Gilani Station, while the third comprises the 9km track from Gilani Station to Drigh Colony. Wherever tracks have deteriorated in the last 21 years, those parts are being restored.
However, technical experts told MM News TV that the tracks near Machar Colony are still in bad condition, and possibility of accidents is higher.
Talking to M.M News, Ameer Dawood, while referring to encroachments, said that the encroachments would be removed on a court order for which the Sindh government and the railway department are planning.
However, the project director informed that it was impossible to install gates on the 9-track road near the Nazimabad board office. “Similarly, the installation of gates at other places where there are wide roads may lead to traffic jams,” he added.
Ameer Dawood further said that the design of the circular railway has been completed. “Pakistan Railway is providing technical support, while rest of the work is being done by the Sindh government with FWO,” he added.
Meanwhile, Karachi Circular Railway is still running on mainline between City Station to Pipri and the first phase of the resumption of the intra-city train service has not been successful, and instead of reaping profits, the railway authorities have been suffering losses.
Around 150 passengers are traveling in KCR on daily basis against its capacity of carrying 1000 people, which is putting the authorities at a financial loss.
