Economic corridor: Gwadar connectivity through rail link not envisaged, National Assembly told

Railways ministry officials revealed that connectivity of Gwadar port with other parts of the country through rail is not included in the short-term plan (2020) under the Pak-China Economic Corridor (PCEC) agreement. Railways ministry''s short-term plan is up to 2020; however, the connectivity of Gwadar port with other parts of the country through rail network is expected in medium- and long-terms which extends up to 2025-30, said Railways officials.
The officials were briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways which met with Syed Naveed Qamar in the chair here on Wednesday. Director General (DG) Planning, Railways Ministry, said a comprehensive feasibility for revival of railways under the Pak-China Economic Corridor deal would be finalised through which existing network from Karachi to Peshawar would be upgraded.
The committee was further informed that about 50 to 60 locomotives would be added to the system by June 2016 to make it more viable economically. However, there would be no new locomotives and all these locomotives would be rehabilitated/repaired. Currently, 250 locomotives are in the system and by end June 2016 the number would be raised to 300.
The committee was also briefed on the budgetary proposals of the Ministry of Railways and its attached departments, relating to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for financial year 2015-16. Ministry of Railways proposed Rs 43.45 billion under the PSDP 2015-16 for 45 new and ongoing projects. The ministry has proposed Rs 7.35 billion for on-going projects under the head of locomotives. The ministry has proposed 11 new projects worth Rs 18.08 billion for 2015-16 under the PSDP. The ministry has proposed re-commissioning/up-gradation of 20 DE Locomotives (DPU 20-30) phase-1 with a proposed allocation of Rs 1 billion against the total cost of Rs 2.5 billion. The ministry also proposed new signalling system on Lodhran-Khanpur-Kotri section and Provision of Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) on Shahdra-Lodhran section with an allocation of Rs 6 billion for 2015-16 against the total cost of Rs 38.26 billion. The committee endorsed the budgetary proposals by the Ministry.
The committee was informed that only one million rupees has been proposed for Karachi Circular Railway (KCR). JICA has not yet signed the loan agreement. Pakistan Railways is willing to hand over the project to government of Sindh and City District government Karachi on a mutually agreeable terms and conditions where technical support can be provided by the Pakistan Railways.