Khokhrapar-Monabao rail link: delay likely in broad gauge work

A minimum six-month delay is expected in the completion of a broad gauge rail track from Khokhrapar to Monabao, the second rail-link between Pakistan and India. Sources in the Ministry of Railways told Business Recorder that besides building the infrastructure, the government is required to put in place an effective security system, requiring more time (at least six months).
However, when contacted, Railways Minister Mian Shamim Haider was confident that the project would be completed well in time and inaugurated by President General Pervez Musharraf on December 31. The ministry is currently working on 128-kilometre broad gauge rail track from Khokhrapar (Pakistan) to Monabao (India). The cost of the project is estimated to be over Rs one billion.
The minister, in reply to a question, said that the railways would be transformed into a corporation by July and in this connection, a bill will be tabled in the next session of the National Assembly.
After the legislation, he said, an advertisement would be floated for the appointment of a chief executive to run the affairs of the department. Shamim Haider maintained that a railway board would also be set up comprising three members from private sector, secretaries of railways, finance and planning and general managers of the department.
About the proposed laying of rail track from Chamman to Afghanistan's border town Spin Boldak, he said the ministry was awaiting a 'right of way' signal and security clearance to start work on the 13-kilometre project. The map and designing of the project, the minister said, had already been completed. Shamim Haider was hopeful that the rail-link would boost trade between the two countries.
He was hopeful that during the two-day visit of Afghan Transport Minister Inayatullah Qasemi to Pakistan, a formal agreement would be signed in this connection.
"Both sides will also discuss laying of rail track from Spin Boldak to Kandahar province of the neighbouring country, linking it to the Central Asian Republics in due course of time," the minister pointed out.