The work on the revival of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) will begin in 2010 and will be operational for public in 2013. Project Director, Ijaz Khilji said on completion of the project an international operator of repute will be appointed for operations and maintenance of KCR on the pattern of successful role model of Singapore Mass Rail Transit (SMRT).
As to the project cost, he said that JICA, the donor agency had sponsored a final study SAPROF (Special Assistance for Project Formation) for the project and final report was received in April-09, with modified estimated cost from $872.316 million to $1558.8 million due to upgradation/additions given as hereunder:
As per study, the route length of KCR will be 43.12 Km, with elevated track increased to 22.49 Km, about 4 km tunnel and 16.63km on ground. It will have 27 stations - 14 on grade, 11 elevated and two in tunnel. KCR, the revival plan of which was approved by ECNEC last week, was constructed and opened for traffic in two phases in the year 1964 and 1970.
It originated from Drigh Road Station on main line and after crossing Shahrah-e-Faisal passes through populated areas of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, SITE, Baldia, Liyari, Kharadar and finally touches Karachi City Station.
Due to lack of investment in infrastructure, rolling stock etc the operational efficiency was marginalised, causing increase of running time, lesser number of trains resulting in reduction of passengers and eventually KCR was closed for passenger traffic in December 1999.
Ijaz Khilji said that in order to plan an effective public transportation system in the city of Karachi, numerous studies were arranged but due to various reasons, mainly lack of funds, no project could be implemented. According to him Government of Pakistan decided to revive KCR in two phases as Modern Commuter System for the citizens of Karachi.
It was also decided that KUTC (Karachi Urban Transport Corporation) will be formed with Ministry of Railways, Government of Sindh and City District Government Karachi as shareholders on basis of their Equity. In October 2005 Japan External Trade Organisation (JETO) working under the aegis of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Government of Japan carried out a Feasibility Study of KCR in close co-ordination with PR, GOS, CDGK and other related agencies/institutions.
The Final Report (March 2006) recommended the Revival of KCR as a viable project for mitigating the commuter problems of the citizens of Karachi. Ijaz Khilji said Karachi Urban Transport Corporation was incorporated on 8th May 2008 in SECP (Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan) as Public Limited (Not Listed) with nine Directors on Board four from Pakistan Railways, two from Govt of Sindh, two of City Dist. Govt. Karachi and one Director from Private Sector.
Its authorised capital is Rs 10 billion. He said KUTC will be the vehicle for the implementation of KCR project and will oversee the management of KCR. Under the project, he said, 290 trains per day will be operated at 6 minutes headway in each direction with carrying capacity of 942/1391 passengers/train, 18840/30602 passengers/hour and 0.69 million passengers/day. The stations will be provided with computerised ticketing, automated ticket gates, vending machines and elevators. The entire KCR will be provided with electric traction infrastructure and modernised signalling and telecommunication system.
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