Pakistan Railways announce to resume KCR from Monday

Pakistan Railways announced to resume Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) in phases from Monday, November 16.

The management of Pakistan Railways Karachi issued a statement according to which the Karachi Circular Railway is being restored in phases from November 16. Initially, the KRC will run from Pipri to Landhi and Orangi Town.

Officials said four trains in Up and Down directions will commute the passengers between Pipri and Orangi stations with a uniform gap of three hours. The first train will depart the Orangi station at 7am in the morning followed by subsequent departures at 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm.

According to the railway administration, the entire journey will cover 60 km with a fare of Rs 50. KCR track has 20 stations and 24 gates of which 15 are on the loop line and 5 on the mainline.

KCR was started in 1962 when Pakistan Railways started a successful experimental metro train service from City Station to Drig Road Station. Expanding the project in 1969, a new 140-kilometer track was laid around the city and 23 new stations were built. By 1970, a total of 140 trains were carrying millions of citizens to and from the city center.

In the 1990s, the revenue of the Circular Railway declined and by 1994, KCR facing a financial crisis decided to shut down trains. In 1999, the KCR was completely closed.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan, while issuing strict orders for the restoration of Karachi Circular Railway, directed all the officials of the federation and Sindh to restore Karachi Circular Railway at all costs.

The biggest hurdle behind the non-restoration of KCR was the encroachments in its path. Large scale encroachments have been made on railway lands in Liaquatabad, Yasinabad and Nazimabad.

On Tuesday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmad issued a notice to Chief Secretary Sindh and Secretary Railways on the issue of Karachi Circular Railway.