Sindh govt commits Rs6b for KCR funding

CM hopes to see a modern day transit system in city

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that his government is committed to provide Rs6 billion to make the existing Karachi Circular Railway fully operational.

He also vowed to realise the dream of launching a modern KCR in the city for the people of the megalopolis.

This he said while presiding over a meeting of KCR here at the CM House. The meeting was attended by Sindh Transport Minister Transport Awais Qadir Shah, Local Government Minister Nasir Shah and others.

The meeting was told that the rehabilitation of the existing track from Drigh Colony/Drigh Road to Karachi City station, on the loop section, has been started.

So far it has seen 50 per cent physical progress. The rehabilitation of a 14 km track from City station to Orangi station has been completed with two trains operating per day from February 10, 2021.

Read More: KCR operations restored between City, Orangi Stations

The KCR existing set up has a total length of 44 kilometers with a 30-kilometer loop and 14 km main line length.

The FWO has to start construction of three structures on the KCR route and an elevated 6.4 kilometers structure at a cost of Rs11.508 billion against which the provincial government has to pay Rs6 billion as its share.

The chief minister said that he would fulfil his commitment when work would start.

He urged the railway authorities to get the PC-I of the project approved from the federal government. He also asked them to carry out fencing work on the KRC route.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2021.