Minister for Railways Mian Shamim Haider on Friday said at least 15 to 18 months are needed to make Khokhrapar-Munabao railway track fully operational. The minister was commenting on the statement of Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh that Khokhrapar-Munabao train service could be initiated from October 2, 2005.
"The railway track from Mirpurkhas to Khokhrapar is in dilapidated condition and its rehabilitation is not possible in just eleven months," he told a private TV channel.
The federal government has been requested to provide Rs 2.5 billion to replace the current narrow gauge railway track with broad gauge one.
Besides, railway station with all necessary facilities including customs will be established in Khokhrapar, he said.
Khokhrapar-Munabao railway service was closed in 1965.
A high-level team of Indian railways would visit Pakistan in the first week of December to work out the modalities of restoring the rail link.
According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), announcing this Indian Railways Chairman R.K. Singh said that the work of converting the 2.5km railway line between Munnabao in Rajasthan and the border into broad gauge would be completed in next six to seven months.