The government has allocated a substantial amount of Rs28,850 million for the ongoing Railway Division projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2023-24.
According to the PSDP documents, unveiled on Friday in the budget 2023-24, important projects in the allocation, includes the commercial and financial feasibility study for the subprojects under Main Line (ML)-I Project.
The subprojects include the preliminary design for the upgradation and rehabilitation of the ML-1 and the establishment of a dry port near Havelian under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which would receive Rs468.634 million.
The allocation would cover various procurement and rehabilitation projects such as the allocation of Rs288.460 million for the procurement and installation of machinery at the Signal Workshop.
Rs138.168 million had been earmarked for the procurement of equipment for improved security and anti-terrorism measures, and Rs17,639 million for the procurement of 820 high-capacity bogie freight wagons and 230 passenger coaches.
Beside, Rs500 million was allocated to the recommissioning of five accidental diesel-electric locomotives, Rs100 million for the rehabilitation of assets damaged during the floods in 2010, and Rs574.160 million for the rehabilitation of 300 KVA DG sets.
Also Rs693.432 million had been earmarked for the reconstruction or rehabilitation of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and the rail connectivity in Karachi. Another subproject of 163 kilometres long Karachi-Hyderabad track would receive Rs17.847 million.
A significant portion of the allocation would go to the construction of new tracks, upgrading and rehabilitation of existing tracks, and various development initiatives, according to the PSDP documents.
These include Rs592 million for the construction of new tracks and the upgradation and rehabilitation of tracks from Chaman Yard to the Pak-Afghan Border. Improvements in the track safety work in Karachi and Sukkur will receive Rs868.891 million.
Rs943 million were allocated for the enhancement of terminal facilities and security arrangements in the Marshalling Yard, Pipri, Karachi. Furthermore, Rs1 million would be used for the installation of solar systems at 155 railway stations.
Additionally, Rs100 million had been earmarked for the indigenous development of a wireless-based block instrument and interlocking system, along with the development of a production unit R&D project.
In addition to the above projects, the government has allocated funds for the rehabilitation of various tracks and the renovation and construction of offices, women's barracks, and multi-purpose training rooms.
Rs2,000 million had been allocated for the special repair of 100 diesel-electric locomotives, while Rs769 million would be utilised for the special repair of 600 passenger coaches and 1,200 bogie wagons.
The government had also allocated Rs60 million for strengthening the Planning, Development, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PD&ME) Directorate in the Ministry of Railways, Islamabad.
An allocation of Rs893.606 million had been made for the rehabilitation and improvement of the Kotri-Jamshoro rail link and the rehabilitation of the track between Kotri and Akhundabad on the Kotri-Dadu section.
These allocations reflected the government's commitment to enhancing the railway infrastructure and transportation system in Pakistan. The investment in ongoing projects was expected to improve connectivity, safety, and efficiency within the railway sector.
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