24 new underpasses, flyovers needed to clear KCR routes

Sindh govt planning to run buses between KCR stations, commercial centres, says chief secretary

KARACHI: As many as 24 underpasses and flyovers must be built to bypass the roads that have been constructed on the track of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), the KCR review committee was informed during a meeting on Monday.

Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, presiding over the meeting, constituted a survey committee for the construction of underpasses and flyovers to clear the KCR route and instructed the officials to submit a report after completing the survey by March 20.

He further directed the relevant officials to install fences on both sides of the track following Pakistan Railway's Right of Way. Moreover, he asked the transport secretary to issue a tender for the installation of fences within three days and present a report.

He apprised the meeting that the government was planning to operate buses from stations to markets in order to connect the city's commercial centres to the stations, which would encourage people to take the circular railway as they commuted around the metropolis.

Shah also ordered the planning and development chairman, Muhammad Waseem, to launch a scheme next year for the improvement of road infrastructure in the surroundings of the KCR stations.

Meanwhile, Railways divisional superintendent Ahmed Memon told the meeting that the KCR stations at Federal Urdu University of Arts and Sciences and University of Karachi were still encroached, at which the chief secretary asked the Karachi additional commissioner to remove the encroachments.

Shah called the next KCR review meeting on March 20, instructing the relevant officials to submit their respective progress reports.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2020.