Sindh Chief Secretary Muhammad Siddiq Memon has emphasised the need for expediting the restoration of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) with the particular reference to finalising the mode, routes and initiating the re-confirmatory survey.
The chief secretary was presiding over a meeting of Karachi Urban Transport Company (KUTC), the institute for restoration and management of the KCR. He also constituted an examination committee headed by the additional chief secretary (ACS) planning and development and comprising MD, KUTC, secretary transport, and divisional superintendent PR, commissioner, administrator KMC and representatives of other stakeholders.
KUTC MD Shamim Sherazi and Secretary Transport Muhammad Tuaha Farooqui made presentation on behalf of KUTC and Sindh government respectively.
It is pertinent to add that the KCR will be a rail-based transit commuter system catering to a greater extent the transport problems, issues and difficulties of Karachi. The road transport including buses will feed the KCR stations located at all major areas of Karachi. People will take benefit by using the KCR to reach their desired destination with comfort and shorter travel time. It will reduce air and noise pollution in the city. The operation of KCR will also be an economic booster for the city and the province of Sindh.
The meeting decided to conduct feasibility study of the KCR with the financial and technical aspects. The Pakistan Railway divisional superintendent assured to arrange the financial and technical feasibility study in association with the KUTC.
The chief secretary, who is also the chairman of the board of directors (BoD) of the KUTC, desired to finalise the service rules asking the members of the Board to send proposals in this regard within 15 days on service rule draft.
