The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) would develop the much-awaited exclusive coal berth and install sprinkles at Karachi Port to overcome environmental problems caused by its coal terminal in Keamari. "In order to overcome environmental problems, KPT is installing sprinkles as a result of which coal particles would not whirl out," KPT Chairperson Nasreen Haque said while inaugurating a coal track at Keamari Groyene Yard on Wednesday.
Flanked by General Manager (GM) (Operation) Pakistan Railways (PR) Saeed Akhtar, the KPT chief executive told the ceremony that plan was afoot to have an exclusive coal berth, where the commodity could be used under covers.
She said that KPT was handling 3.6 million tons of coal annually while transporting the same by road with some portion used to be taken to Wazir Mansion by train. She said the railway was persuaded to participate in the transportation of bulk cargo and specially the coal and, therefore, this railway line was laid as a result of which now almost 1200 tons of coal would be transported at one time directly from the port to upcountry destinations.
She also thanked the railway for taking interest in the project and expressed hope that railway would arrange more wagons for speedy transportation of bulk coal. Talking about the coal track, Saeed Akhtar said the railway line has been laid at a cost of Rs 55.54 million which would generate the monthly income of Rs 50 million to the Railway from Groyene Yard, and the railway would get back its investment within two months.
He said that PR has established a 1.87 km long new track for transportation of bulk coal from Groyene Yard at Karachi Port as additional facility for loading of coal at Keamari. The Railway GM said that initially one coal carrying train would be operated daily and subsequently the frequency would be increased to 3-4 trains daily.
"The operation of one train will generate a monthly revenue of Rs 50 million, or Rs 600 million a year," he said, adding that earlier three dumpers were required for loading of one wagon, and 60 for a load of 1200 tons, or 20 wagons, moving daily from Groyene Yard to Wazir Mansion which not only caused traffic congestion but also affected the environment.
He said with direct transportation of bulk coal from Groyene yard, the movement of 60 dumpers has halted and environment protected from combusted pollution. The GM Railway pointed out that earlier the contractors used to be paid Rs 71 per ton to dumpers for shifting of coal from Groyene Yard to Wazir Mansion.
He said Pakistan Railway was earning Rs 1.50 million daily from loading of coal at Wazir Mansion and now the loading capacity of coal at groyene yard has almost doubled and income from here was now anticipated at Rs 17 million per month keeping all untoward situations in mind.
In reply to query he said that Punjab Government has already started survey for installing Phatak (bar) along the railway tracks while the Sindh Government would start the same next month. He said PR has scrap material of Rs 8 billion which could be a big source of fund generation if it was considered seriously.
He said the Ministry of Finance has agreed to provide financial support to PR for reparation of its at least 100 de-rated engines which could generate Rs 0.3 million each daily. The track, jointly inaugurated by KPT Chairperson and PR GM,, went operational with the departure of first 'coal train' after its formal inauguration at the ceremony. The Divisional Superintendent Railway Karachi Division, Aftab Memon, Divisional Commercial Officer Kashif Yusufani besides a host of senior railway and KPT officers were also present on the occasion.
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