PR seeks massive funding to restore damaged infrastructure

Department estimates Rs433b expenditure on repair of bridges

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Railways seeks more than Rs120 billion for the repair and reconstruction of its damaged communication infrastructure during the recent unprecedented floods in various parts of the country.

The Railways official said that the department had estimated Rs433 billion expenditure for the repair of more than 1,100 damaged bridges and culverts in Sindh and Balochistan and construction of 259 new ones.

According to sources, Railways Civil Engineering Department has demanded Rs53 billion to restore the signal system, Rs60 billion to fix partial damage to 33 Railway Stations and Rs6 billion to restore communication towers.

“The signal system has also suffered massive damage in Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Sukkur divisions due to unexpected rains and floods in most parts of the country,” a source told APP.

The floods caused extensive damage to the railway in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. According to data, 3,187 kilometres of the track was destroyed, while 1,446 railway bridges and culverts were damaged.

The department is gradually restoring the train services, which was suspended since August. The sources said that the work on restoring railway tracks was in full swing with the help of the relevant departments.

“The department has deployed technical bridge staff at various sections for the repair of the damaged bridges and the train operation would only be restored after the completion of the reconstruction work on the bridges,”

Besides the repair, the Railways was also planning to upgrade its trains and railway stations across the country on modern lines to facilitate the passengers and help the department generate more revenue.

The officials said that a fleet of 20 state-of-the-art coaches would arrive in Pakistan from China by the end of the current month which would ensure a comfortable journey.

”Pakistan Railways has procured 230 new passenger coaches from China, which will not only facilitate the passengers but also generate more revenues for the department,” an official in the Ministry of Railways told APP.

“The department has worked out a plan to replace old and obsolete signal gear from Lodhran-Multan-Khanewal-Shandara Bagh mainline section during the current fiscal year,” he added.

“The signalling system at 44 stations is automated by a Computer Based Interlocking (CBI) over Shandadpur-Mirpur Mathelo and Lodhran-Shandara Bagh section,” the official said.

According to the official, the Railways Ministry had already allocated Rs21,712 million for a project titled ‘Procurement and Manufacturing of 230 Passenger Coaches’ in the current fiscal year 2022-23.

He added that Pakistan Railways had allocated Rs1 billion for another project titled ‘Replacement of old and obsolete signal gear from Lodhran-Multan-Khanewal-Shandara Bagh mainline section.