Wazir Mansion railway station: No trains or passengers but ghost station keeps its employees

Last train to pass through the Wazir Mansion railway station was in November, 2011.

KARACHI:

The railway tracks are filled with trash, the platform is deserted and the station master is taking a nap, converting his office into a bedroom. The only sign of life at the Wazir Mansion circular railway station is a couple of employees loitering about who continue to draw their salary without serving any real purpose. 

Named after the birthplace of Quaid-e-Azam, the station appears to serve almost every other purpose apart from taking passengers from one place to the other - the parking area has been given to wood sellers, the area where trains used to dump goods seems to have become a parking lot for huge trailers and the platform now serves as a playground for kids playing cricket.

The last train to pass through this station of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) was in November, 2011, and while the KCR currently does not exist and the Pakistan Railways is struggling with its finances, around 15 idle employees are being regularly paid.

“The KCR stopped functioning in November 2011 but our pay has still been coming on time,” said the station master, Khalid. “It is not our fault that we are getting paid but have no duties. If the government provides security to passengers, bring trains and maintains the tracks, we are ready for duty.”

He confirmed that the last train to pass through the station was of Pakistan Railways in 2011 after which the service was temporarily shut down due to the railways financial losses.

“Since no trains come or go, hardly five out of the 15 employees come to work. The others have been transferred to other places,” said Khalid. Apart from the station master, a signalman, a lineman, railway-tracks inspector and a guard come to the station as a customary practice. “We are here just to take care of the premises and answer a wandering journalist.”

Who’s in-charge?

The managing director of the Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) could not be reached for his comment as he was said to be on an official trip to Japan. One of his staff members dealing with the revival of the KCR project, however, distanced the organisation from the station and its employees. “The Wazir Mansion railway station and its employees belong to the Pakistan Railways. We have nothing to with them,” said the KUTC official, refuting the claim that the station was not in use. “The goods trains are still operating on the tracks for the transfer of goods from Balochistan. The service of local trains was stopped a few months ago due to the worsening law and order situation of the area,” he said.

When contacted, divisional superintendent Nisar Ahmed Khan brushed off the matter by saying, “I am not aware about the circumstances of Wazir Mansion as I was appointed to this post recently.” He, however, told The Express Tribune that they are trying to rehabilitate the goods trains in 15 to 20 days.

Another official of the Pakistan Railways who inspects the tracks told The Express Tribune that the tracks are being used for the goods trains from City railway station to Wazir Mansion. “The tracks ahead of this route are not in working conditions.”

Station master Khalid, however, said that it would take months to repair and clear the tracks as there are a number of issues, such as encroachment and garbage on the tracks.

Meanwhile, residents said that Khalid with help of other staff have rented out the property of the station on monthly rent. “The money does not go in my pocket. I give it to higher officials working in the railways,” said Khalid.  KUTC officials relieved themselves of any responsibility by saying, “Pakistan Railways is responsible for any unusual or illegal activity taking place at Wazir Mansion.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2014.