Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique vowed to complete the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) Project within the tenure of their governments to provide modern, rapid and low-cost transportation facilities to at least 0.7 million commuters daily. This was stated by them at a meeting held at the CM House here on Saturday.
Sindh Minister for Transport Mumtaz Jakhrani, Information and Local Government Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Additional Chief Secretary (Planning & Development) Wasim Ahmed, Senior Member of Board of Revenue Alamuddin Bullo, Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddique, Secretary Transport Taha Farooqi, Secretary Works & Services Kazi Shahid Perviaz, Secretary Finance Sohail Rajput, Additional IGP Sindh, KCR's managing director, project director and Pakistan Railways senior officers attended the meeting.
The meeting decided to constitute an eight members committee to negotiate with the encroachers occupying KCR tracks, prepare workable evacuation and resettlement plan for these affectees. The committee will be headed by Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui and its members include Secretary Transport, Secretary Finance, KCR's managing director and project directors, Administrator KMC, Additional IGP, Sindh and Railways divisional superintendent.
The committee has been asked to submit its recommendations to the federal and Sindh governments by May 20, 2014 so that standard operation procedure (SOP) of the plan could be initiated. Expressing willingness to invest in the rehabilitation plan, both the federal and Sindh governments decided to keep financial provisions in the coming fiscal year budget of 2014-15 and to complete the project within the tenure of their governments.
Responding to the federal minister's concerns over sabotage activities to target Pakistan Railway tracks, the CM directed the Sindh Police to launch joint patrolling along with Railway police at the sensitive spots of railway tracks. He also formed the committee and assigned it the task of evolving an effective mechanism in this regard on permanent basis. The committee will be headed by additional IGP, Sindh.
Referring to the issue of unmanned railway crossings in Sindh, the CM informed the meeting that as many as 44 unmanned railway crossings have been identified and Sindh government has allocated Rs 100 million for the construction of gates at such crossings to help save human lives. The meeting also decided to revive the historical glories of the Karachi Cantonment station and Railway Stadium, located at I.I. Chundrigar Road.
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