Railways to spend Rs 550 million to repair rail track up to Khokhrapar

Pakistan Railways (PR) has prepared a project costing Rs 550 million to repair and improve track from Mirpurkhas to Khokhrapar in Sindh province to reopen rail service across the border to Monabao (eight kilometres distance) in Indian Rajasthan province. Khokhrapar and Monabao border was closed in 1964 following tension between Pakistan and India.
In high level talks in recent past governments of both countries agreed to reopen the said border to facilitate travel of people through this short route instead of going from Lahore to India.
The old sleepers and lines of meter guage rail track from Khokhrapar to Monabao need replacement, says a survey report prepared by team of Mazdoor Kissan Party Sindh, led by its general secretary Furqan Mushtaq Qaimkhani. In case Khokhrapar border is opened for resuming train service with India new steam engines and bogeys will be required, for which Pakistan Railways has made arrangements.
At present one up and down once a week train service between Mirpurkhas and Khokhrapar on 135 km distance runs on slow speed of 30-35 km per hour, which after repairs rail track can increase up to 60-70 km.