KCR project faces another setback

The multi-billion rupees project of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) has faced another setback following the demand of Malir Development Authority (MDA) from the Sindh Revenue Department (SRD) for alternate land for the resettlement of thousands of displaced persons.
Besides, MDA has claimed compensation for the infrastructure development work, which it had made on the location where the $1.58 billion project's affected people were planned to be resettled, sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday.
Although, Pakistan Railways (PR), which has dispute with the authority over the specified land at Juma Goth, adjacent to Shah Latif Township on National Highway, has agreed to give the land for the required purpose, MDA has demanded an alternate one, the sources said.
Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC), the proponent of KCR project, was trying to resolve the dispute between the two parties, to ensure the earlier resettlement of thousands of families who for years were living on the encroached land along the KCR track.
While the efforts were being made to resolve the issue, sources said, the current appointment of administrators and change of officials in various departments were also causing the delay in the development works of the project, sources said. According to the sources at a high level meeting held on December 18, 2009 in Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Islamabad, to review the implementation status of the long-awaited project, KUTC had raised the issue of the land.
The dispute between Pakistan Railway (PR) and MDA over the proposed land at Juma Goth Site, was likely to be settled amicably outside the court. Around 350 acres of land has been planned by KUTC at Juma Goth, as venue to shift the land grabbers of government land along KCR track, to the new area at Super Highway, they added. They said government would spend at least Rs 4.45 billion on the infrastructure development on the location at Rs 12.5 million per acre with cash compensation.
According to the resettlement plan, they said, 80sq.yd, plus cash Rs 100,000 would be given to each family affected by the project. Sources said that KUTC, in collaboration with Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), was also working to ensure the supply of electricity and other utility services to the new area. The project, according to a rough estimate, was to hit at least 15,000 houses whose occupants are expected to be compensated in terms of resettlement and relocation.
However, talking to Business Recorder, Managing Director KUTS, Ejaz Khilji, claimed that the corporation was in touch with both the parties PR and MDA and the issue would be resolved in near future. He said PR has already expressed its willingness to give the land in writing and MDA's demand was also being considered by the concerned authorities.
He said that the recent delay was due to the appointment of administrators and changes of officials. On the other hand, Director General, MDA Ameerzada Kohati, said that the land was already allotted by defunct Karachi Development Authority (KDA) to different people while developing the infrastructure at the site. He said MDA has no objection to the demand of KUTC but the authority needed alternate land with compensation for infrastructure, it developed on the said land.