The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Federal Finance Secretary to arrange Rs6 billion funding for the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR). "Secretary Finance, who has to arrange the funding, is directed to ensure that there is no obstruction in making the availability of fund to Pakistan Railways (PR) for accomplishing the revival of KCR," a written order of the SC in the KCR revival case stated.
The order of the SC's bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed said that the Advocate General of Sindh and the Secretary of Pakistan Railways presented two options; one for completing the KCR as it existed and operated before its closure and the other option being that of making KCR through a CPEC project with altogether new and modern infrastructure.
The SC observed that the two options for the revival of KCR have difference in them of cost as well as of required time to operate them and concluded that the first option is the best option because Secretary PR has assured the revival of KCR as it existed before its closure within the timeline as already given by the court vide its order dated 21.02.2020 that is six months time.
The order stated that railway will acquire finance and it will be a two track operation with making of railway stations, provision of all amenities and fencing of railway tracks and of course installation of modern signaling.
The job will be done by the PR by incurring a cost of rupees about six billion and that railway shall accomplish the revival of KCR with these funds within the stipulated time given by the court, the bench declared.
The apex court, however, noted that PR may continue its deliberation of planning of upgrading the KCR through CPEC and on approval and sanctioning of such up- gradation. The court ruled this job can also be undertaken by the Pakistan Railways but without obstructing the already functioning KCR.
The Attorney-General for Pakistan assured that federal Government will ensure that no obstruction or delay whatsoever is caused by any department of Federal Government in revival of KCR as it existed before its closure. Secretary Railways, however, pointed out that there will be some 24 level crossings, which will cause serious road traffic hazard and the road travelers will be inconvenienced.
He stated that Sindh Government is in consultation with PR to address this issue and make plans for making of underpasses and overhead bridges for the smooth flow of road traffic and also smooth running of the KCR.
The Advocate-General of Sindh, the Chief Secretary of Sindh and the Commissioner of Karachi made a categorical statement that the Sindh government shall cooperate in every respect with Pakistan Railways in reviving of the KCR and it will provide its services to the Pakistan Railways wherever such is required and there will be no element of any delay in revival of the KCR by Pakistan Railways.
Necessary infrastructure of underpasses and overhead bridges at the level crossings will immediately be made by Sindh government and ensure that road traffic is not obstructed by the functioning of the KCR and KCR is also not obstructed from its operation because of the road traffic, the court directed.
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