CDWP Approved KCR Project Worth Billions

Islamabad: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in its meeting under the chairmanship of Deputy Chairman Planning Division Jahazeb Khan approved the Karachi Circular Railway Project worth Rs 273.071bn. The project has been referred to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for the final nod. The meeting was also attended by senior officials of Pakistan Railway and representatives of the provincial government. The 43 KM modern urban railway would be constructed in a period of three years under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis. The Mass Transit Rail System would provide safe and eco-friendly public transport to the most populous city in the country. The daily ridership of the project would be around 450,000 and the ridership would rise to 1 million per day by the end of 33 years concession period.

The project with the use of electric trains will remain operational throughout the week. The planned project having thirty stations would traverse through the most populous areas of the city. The KCR route commences from the existing Karachi city station, moves along the Drigh Road Station. It further moves along  Shahrah-e- Faisal and enters into Gulistan-e- Johar, and Gulshan-e- Iqbal. Then, it passes through the older residential areas of North Nazimabad, Nazimabad leading to SITE area and further to the Port, then reaches back to Karachi City Station. The Deputy chairman planning commission said that the completion of the project is a challenge. He said, “We need to invest in Railway as the federal government is committed to supporting such public interest projects.”

It is to be noted here that Karachi being the largest city in the country and a hub of business activities attracts the masses from the length and breadth of the country to earn their living. Moreover being the provincial capital there is always a great rush all around the city. Due to the ever-increasing pressure of population, the city has been facing serious issues of transportation over the past few years. The development of KCR on modern lines would play an important role in mitigating the problems of the people of Karachi. The government has already started the Green Line Bus Project In Karachi that caters to thousands of daily commuters. Moreover, the Sindh government has also announced a modern bus service containing 250 Modern Buses On Karachi Roads.