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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways has partially resumed the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) train service from today.
During the inaugural ceremony of KCR, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed announced a cut in KCR fares from 50 rupees to 30 and Rs 750 ticket package for a month.
Last week, a KCR train comprising four bogies and two locomotives travelled a 14-kilometer-long distance from Karachi’s City Railway Station to Orangi Town.
The train took around two hours to cover the entire distance that is supposed to take minutes, they said, adding it took much longer than usual because of the dilapidated condition of the tracks and stations.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sheikh Rasheed said that Pakistan Railways deferred KCR resumption from Karachi’s City Station to the Orangi section due to the issue of level crossings and renovation of stations.
“After 15 days the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) route will be further extended by 14 kilometers,” the minister said by adding that the work on railway crossings on 14 kilometers being launched immediately.
The Sindh government also awarded contracts for the KCR projects, the minister further said. “We want to run the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR)project jointly with the Sindh government,” he added.
Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) has been closed for last 25 years, and having several problems in its resumption, the Railways minister said.
The Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project is 12.63 kilometres at grade (on the ground), and 30.75 kilometres elevated with 24 railway stations out of which 14 will be elevated. The average distance between each station will be 1.8 kilometres.
