Karachi: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the Pakistan Railways to revive the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project within six months, according to news sources. As per the publication, the apex court has issued instructions to the federal secretary to ensure the supply of the funds needed to the Pakistan Railways (PR) for the project’s completion.
The
verdict was passed by a three-member bench that included Chief Justice Gulzar
Ahmed, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Faisal Arbab. The bench was informed
that the PR required funds of approximately PKR 6 billion for the project.
The verdict referred to a presentation by the attorney general, advocate general, railways secretary, and the Sindh chief secretary, among other provincial and federal officials. As per the presentation, KCR’s revival can be planned in two ways. The first option is to revive the project as it was before its closure, and the second option is that it’s made part of the China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC) initiative under a new design infrastructure.
The
apex court endorsed the first option to revive the project under existing
patterns, and asked it to be completed in the already issued timeline that
expires in six months’ time. The judgement allowed the PR to plan an upgrade of
the KCR (under CPEC), but without compromising the already functioning section
of the KCR.
The
bench directed the Sindh government to develop underpasses and overhead bridges
needed at level crossings to prevent any traffic hazards in the area. Moreover,
the bench asked that a detailed report on the progress of the KCR revival
project should be presented before the SC on March 26.
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