The Supreme Court has ordered the relevant authorities to rehabilitate the people to be displaced from the operation for revival of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and expressed the hopes that it would be done in one year. The SC in a detailed judgment on revival of KCR issued guidelines and directives for the revival of KCR as well as for rehabilitation of those to be affected from the operation to clear its track.
A two-member bench of SC comprised of Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan in the detailed order stated that court Secretary, Railway with regard to operation of circular train in Karachi so also the local train. Secretary assured that so far the work of railway is concerned, the same will be completed within a period of fifteen days and thereafter the Sindh Government will take over the said project and run the trains both circular as well as the local.
The Sindh Government shall ensure that circular railway as well as the local railway get in operation within farther one month's time, order stated and added that Chief Minister, Sindh, Mayor of Karachi, Chief Secretary, Sindh, the Commissioner, Karachi and the Railways Authorities shall ensure that this schedule of operation of circular as well as local train is adhered to and this service is made available to the people of Karachi within this period without fail and whatever assistance is required the Federal Government, Planning Division, shall give its input and ensure that the train is made operational within this period.
The Secretary, Railway stated that the matter regarding removal of the encroachment from the railway land has already been initiated and that he will ensure that all encroachment from the railway land is removed.
Court, however, noted that there are almost like thousands of residents on the encroached land who are residing there; and doing their business and such has been brought about by the railway itself.
It ordered the railway to ensure that the removal of encroachment will be made but the people who are dispossessed or dislocated from this operation are accommodated appropriately and for this purpose the railway is going to take assistance from the Federal as well as the Sindh Government and also from the Mayor, City of Karachi.
Secretary, Railway informed that a survey in this respect has already been made and all encroachers have been identified and their list has been prepared and the matter has also been discussed with the Sindh Government who has agreed to provide appropriate location for the resettlement of these encroachers.
Court cautioned both the Railway Ministry as well as the Sindh Government that wherever these encroachers are going to be settled, proper amenities like of a modem living shall be provided to them and such place is not going to be allowed to become another slum in the city of Karachi.
In this regard proper consultation with city planners and developers should be obtained in advance so also all engineering concerns as well as the environmental authorities be taken on board.
Court hoped that all these things will be done on top priority by all these authorities and the shifting will be achieved within a period of one year. Court ordered that progress report in this regard shall continuously be given by the Mayor of Karachi, Chief Secretary, the Commissioner, Karachi as well as the Secretary, Railway.
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