KESC signs deal for circular railway revival

The KCR will be revived as a modern commuter system for a city that desperately needs public transport.

KARACHI:
The Karachi Electric Supply Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Karachi Urban Transport Corporation on Monday to explore options of providing electricity for the Karachi Circular Railway.

The KCR will be revived as a modern commuter system for a city that desperately needs public transport.

The total route length of the dual tracks on the Karachi Circular Railway Project Stage I and Stage II would be 43.12km (Karachi City to NIPA - 22.86km and NIPA to Karachi City Station and along the mainline - 20.26km) with 24 stations.

Trains will be operated at six-minute intervals with a capacity of 942 to 1,391 passengers per train, 18,840 to 30,602 passengers per hour and 0.69 million passengers per day. The KCR will have an electric traction infrastructure and signaling and telecommunication system.


KESC and KUTC will now discuss how to go about providing it 120 megawatts. KUTC intends to purchase the electricity.

KESC is in the process of expanding its generation in Karachi and intends to provide an adequate supply of power to the KCR project upon its completion and operation in 2014.

The KCR will be funded by the Government of Japan. Its stations will have computerised ticketing, automated ticket gates, vending machines and elevators.

Banks, post offices, book shops, utility kiosks for water, electricity, gas, utility bills, NADRA offices, libraries and reading rooms, restaurants, fast food corners, parking lots etc. are also part of the plan. Buses will operate to and from KCR stations.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2010.
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