‘Centre refuses to run Karachi Circular Railway’

Anti-encroachment operation near the tracks continued for the sixth day

KARACHI: The Sindh government fully supports the revival of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) but unfortunately, the Railways Ministry has refused to run KCR citing lack of resources, said Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Information, Anti-Corruption and Law Barrister Murtaza Wahab, while speaking to the media outside Sindh Assembly on Tuesday.

"The Sindh government will modernise KCR in compliance with the honourable court's directives," said Wahab adding that the provincial government has been making efforts for the revival of KCR since 2016 and the KCR project was included in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects through the efforts of Sindh chief minister. Wahab said that the federal government had however promised to support and contribute to the revival of KCR.

The provincial government has sent a letter to the Railways ministry for the provision of 102 required train boogies for KCR, he added.

According to Wahab, the railways was facing a deficit of Rs28 billion but Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed was busy making tall claims.

It seems as though he wants to be the information minister, but Rasheed's performance shows he does not meet the criteria to even the divisional superintendent of railways, said Wahab.

In response to a question, he added that Rasheed showed reluctance to revive KCR in a meeting held recently.

Anti-encroachment drive

Meanwhile, the first phase of the anti-encroachment operation along KCR track continued for the sixth day in East district on Tuesday. Encroachments from around 10 kilometers of land have been cleared so far.

The land surrounding the railway track from Gillani Railway Station to Gharibabad was cleared. The main gate of Civic View apartments, in the surrounding area of the railway track, was also removed.

Announcements were made on loudspeakers by police officials for occupiers to vacate the area. Only huts and bushes were removed, no concrete structure was razed during the operation.

Railway Divisional Superintendent Mazhar Ali and Railways SSP Shehla Quraishi visited the track. Speaking to the media, Ali said that the operation is being carried out on orders of the Supreme Court.

According to him, a meeting was called before the operation was launched and the anti-encroachment strategy was decided.

"All encroachments present within 50-feet on each side of the track will be razed indiscriminately," said Ali.

Gulshan-e-Iqbal Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Soomro Mastoi said that the total area of KCR land in East district is 20km of which 11km encroached. Of the encroached land, 10km has been cleared so far during the first phase of the anti-encroachment operation.

The operation on Tuesday began at 10 am and continued till 5 pm without interruptions. A large number of male and female police officers were present throughout.

There are 24 concrete structures in the surroundings of KCR tracks and the owners of have been issued notices but they have yet to evacuate the houses.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2019.