Will KCR remain a distant dream?

Even as the Pakistan Railways (PR) announces the resumption of Karachi Circular Railway’s (KCR’s) operation from November 16, it seems ill-prepared to live up to the commitment.

The Ministry of Railways had announced that in the first phase of the intra-city rail service’s restoration, trains will run between Pipri and Orangi Stations, making eight trips up and down the tracks in a day. Each trip is to cost a traveller Rs50.

However, the part of the railway track from City Station to Orangi Station remains to be cleared, making it likely that come November 16, Karachiites may see trains running only between Pipri and City Stations.

When contacted, Karachi Railway DCO Nasir Nazeer told The Express Tribune that each of the trains running between the stations would consist of four bogies and a brake van and could accommodate up to 500 passengers. However, he could not confirm whether the train service would be restricted from Pipri to City Station.

According railway officials, the tracks between the Pipri and Orangi Stations run over 60 kilometres (km), while those between City and Orangi Stations cover a distance of 14km.

Sources in Pakistan Railways, on the condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that the decision to resume the KCR’s operations was taken in haste and no proper preparations had been made for the purpose. There are multiple technical snags that need to be addressed before the resumption of train operations, they opined.

They further pointed out that Orangi Station only had a single track, as a result of which shunting trains and brake vans could take longer. The only way out of it is though installing two locomotives for each train, they claimed.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by The Express Tribune revealed that the railway tracks had sunk into the ground at many locations and were covered by heaps of garbage at numerous others points.

Tracks running through Machhar Colony, near Wazir Mansion and in Orangi Town, as well as in other places, have also become rusty and unsuitable for use, while the loop line connecting Orangi and City Stations is in derelict condition and the one connecting Orangi and Wazir Mansion Stations is strewn with garbage and trash cans.

Orangi Station itself does not present a pleasant picture. Its ticket house is in ruins, deprived of any doors and windows. Covered in dirt, it has become a gathering point for drug addicts. Outside, the platforms at the station, too, are in dilapidated condition.

On the other hand, at some other stations, there are no railway gates and almost all stations have no waiting area for passengers.

Besides, at many spots, encroachments remain within 10 feet of the railway track, posing another hurdle in the way of the railway service’s restoration.

The announcement of the KCR operations’ resumption came a day after the Supreme Court issued contempt notices to Sindh’s chief secretary and the railways secretary for failing to remove encroachments from the defunct transport system’s tracks.

The bench had noted that despite its repeated orders, the authorities had not started work for removing encroachments from the tracks of the KCR. Expressing displeasure over this non-compliance, Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed said that the bench would also summon the prime minister and Sindh chief minister, if needed.

Meanwhile, Justice Ijazul Ahsan said the issue of encroachments could not be resolved through mere correspondences among officials. In this way, even five years would pass without any development on ground, he added.

On August 10, the apex court had directed officials to ensure that the KCR becomes operational this year.

“The deadline given [for the KCR’s restoration] has expired. Why has it not been restored?” the CJ had asked the railways secretary.

The secretary replied that there were obstructions due to the Green Line bus rapid transit project in the city. The court had ordered authorities to complete underpasses, flyovers, fencing and other work related to the KCR within the stipulated time.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2020.