KCR track: 24 points identified for underpasses, flyovers' construction

The initial survey jointly conducted by Pakistan Railways and Sindh Transport Department has identified as many as 24 points where underpasses and flyovers would be built for clearing the track of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR).

Also, the Sindh Chief Secretary (CS) Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah has formed a four member committee to carryout detailed survey of the areas where the underpasses and the flyovers are to be built for clearing KCR, as roads have been built on the old KCR tracks over the years.

A spokesman of CS Sindh told Business Recorder that the committee members include Additional Commissioner Karachi, Divisional Superintendent (DS) Railways Karachi Division, Director Transport Department, and an urban development expert Niaz Ahmad Soomro.

Mumtaz Ali Shah directed the committee to submit its survey report latest by March 20. He also directed the secretary transport for undertaking the work of fencing at the land on both sides of Right of Way of railway and inviting tenders for this purpose within three days.

The concerned officers were also directed to submit detailed report to the transport department about the railway land cleared of all the encroachments so that fencing work could be started.

The meeting further discussed the matters relating to plying the buses from stations to markets connecting the KCR to the main market places of metropolis. "It would be pertinent for the success of KCR in terms of increasing its ridership to introduce bus system from stations to market places," Shah said.

CS directed the Chairman, Planning & Development Board to get prepared schemes for improving the roads and other infrastructures in the surroundings of KCR stations.

When DS Railways pointed out that encroachments still exist at Urdu University and Karachi University Stations of KCR, the CS directed Additional Commissioner Karachi to get the encroachments removed and submit the report.

CS convening the next meeting on March 20, directed all the concerned to accomplish the tasks assigned to them including survey and submit the reports in next meeting.

Chairman, Planning & Development Board Muhammad Waseem, Advocate General Sindh Salman Talibuddin, Secretary Transport Ghulam Abbas, DS Railways Nasar Ahmed Memon and others attended the meeting.