Anti-encroachment drive: Govt moves to revive KCR

KMC prepares plan to remove encroachments along track

KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has finalised a plan to get 360 acres of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) land vacated from encroachers.

According to officials in KMC, a massive operation will be carried out in phases with the help of police and Rangers to clear the KCR track of encroachments.

Sources in KMC said that as many as 5,653 illegally constructed structures will be razed during the operation. More than 29 acres of KCR land is occupied near Wazir Mansion, another two acres from Wazir Mansion to Orangi Nullah, 1.5 acres from there to Nazimabad, another 2.5 acres from there to Liaquatabad, and 3.25 acres from there to Gilani Railway Station. Two acres of the KCR land is illegally occupied from Gilani Railway Station up till the Federal Urdu University, another 4.25 acres till the University of Karachi, and one acre to Depot Hill near the Drigh Road station.



There have been many proposals to revive the KCR which could not materialise due to lack of financial and political backing. In May 2017, the Government of Pakistan had approved Rs27.9billion (US$260 million) for the restoration package of KCR.

However, the Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday ordered provincial and local government authorities to reclaim railways lands and remove encroachments from the KCR tracks immediately in coordination with respective deputy commissioners. "Not a single encroachment should now be seen in Karachi," Justice Gulzar Ahmed was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Ali Shallwani on Monday visited all the KCR stations to inspect the condition of the tracks as well as stations. He directed the Pakistan Railways to clear the tracks and carry out the maintenance work of railway lines and get lines replaced where needed.

Pakistan Railways Divisional Superintended Arshad Salam Khattak and deputy commissioners of all three districts also accompanied. The divisional superintendent briefed the commissioner about the action plan they have prepared to revive the service of KCR.

The commissioner directed the Pakistan Railways to undertake the work of cleanliness and maintenance of the tracks and stations on priority basis and ensure the KCR service begins as soon as possible.

The commissioner and Railways officials visited Wazir Mansion Station and then went to Baldia Station where they noticed commercial activities that were being carried out on the track while the lines were covered with bushes. The other stations they visited included Shah Abdul Latif Station, SITE Station, Mangopir Station, Habib Bank Station, Orangi Station, North Nazimabad Station, Liaquatabad and Yasinabad Station, Gilani Station, KU Station, and Depot Hill Station.

The commissioner directed the deputy commissioners to issue notices to the shopkeepers and ensure that the work for removal of encroachments is completed as soon as possible with the support of police and Rangers. He also directed the West Deputy Commissioner Zahid Memon to issue a notice to a factory located near the Habib Bank Station, which was disposing industrial waste and causing damage to the railway line. Central Deputy Commissioner Farhan Ghani told the commissioner that notices have been issued to shopkeepers of Liaquatabad Furniture Market.



Illegal shops razed

The anti-encroachment teams on Monday razed unauthorised structures, including 296 shops in Light House and 176 in Arambagh areas. Many electronics shops adjacent to Arambagh Furniture Market were demolished. Shop owners admitted that notices were served to them two to three months ago. However, they were not happy and they claimed that they had paid all dues to the KMC including last month's rent.

Light House market, also known as Lunda Bazaar, which is popular for second-hand clothes and adjoining encroachments of Paper Market were also razed. Shop owners said they had been doing business in these markets for more than 50 years and had been paying their rents on time. They said the notices were given to them yesterday. They demanded an alternative place for their business and compensation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2018.