Pakistan Railways to spend Rs61bn on maintenance of 145 locomotives

ISLAMABAD: The Railways Ministry would spend Rs6.1 billion on maintenance of 145 locomotives, Rs2 billion each on rehabilitation of tracks and coaches while Rs1 billion would be reserved for future use.

According to Railways official, the ministry is all set to start maintenance and rehabilitation work but waiting for release of Rs. 11.5 billion allocation by the finance ministry.

It was said that the allocation was approved by the federal cabinet under the head of rehabilitation and maintenance work to improve the services of railways.

The official said that Pakistan Railways has the capacity to repair around 12 locomotives in a month time, adding that after maintenance, 75 per cent of locomotives would be used for freight carrying and rest 25 per cent for passenger coaches.

He said that all over the world, freight coach service bears the expenditures and brings in profit and the passenger coaches usually suffer losses.

He said that a locomotive of 3,000 horse power generates up to Rs60 million per annum against Rs50.5 million by the one with 2,000 horse power.

He said for maintenance purpose, the spare parts would be imported from United States and China and 12 to 15 locomotives would be repaired each month to minimize losses of railways that were estimated Rs 3 billion a month.

The official said across the world a cargo truck is disallowed to move from one district to the other but in Pakistan, a single truck roams around the whole country.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011