Golra Station reopens after major restoration

Historic 1881 station revived under project to preserve Pakistan's railway heritage

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, recently inaugurated the newly restored Golra Railway Station in Islamabad, marking the completion of a significant conservation project dedicated to preserving Pakistan's rich railway heritage.

Originally constructed in 1881, Golra Railway Station stands as one of the most distinguished landmarks of the subcontinent's railway history. Surrounded by century-old trees, vintage travel artefacts, and historic sleepers, the station has been meticulously restored to reflect its original colonial-era architecture.

A grand inauguration ceremony was held at the station, attended by federal ministers, senators, ambassadors, and members of the media.

Speaking on the occasion, Abbasi noted that the restoration formed part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's broader vision to modernise and digitise Pakistan Railways. He highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the 'Safe and Smart Stations' project, cashless ticketing, and complimentary Wi-Fi services, launched in collaboration with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).

The minister emphasised that recent reforms — including the Freight Online System, weighbridges, the Rail Contact mobile application, and the 117 Call Centre — had been introduced to enhance passenger convenience. He further stated that new facilities, including information desks, escalators, CIP lounges, and high-quality food outlets, were being established at major stations across the country.

With regard to regional connectivity, the minister revealed that the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) train service would be revived by the end of the year. He noted that Kazakhstan had completed preparations to extend the missing rail link up to Chaman, while Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan had finalised an agreement to strengthen regional railway cooperation.

Abbasi further disclosed that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would be making a substantial investment to upgrade the Karachi-Rohri railway track, while improvements to the Nokundi-Rohri section would facilitate the transport of minerals to seaports.