The new Divisional Superintendent Pakistan Railway, Karachi Division, Aftab Memon has vowed to improve the railway operation on the divisional railway network with focus on freight operation. In an interview to APP, Aftab Memon who joined Karachi Division recently after transfer as DS Railway Lahore, said that safety and punctuality of trains would be his foremost priorities.
He pointed out that at present seven freight trains are being sent from Karachi and Bin Qasim Ports for upcountry destinations on daily basis but he would ensure the movement of minimum nine freight trains. 'We have the rolling stock and locomotives and demand is also available and, therefore, there will be no problem in operating nine freight trains,' he pointed out.
He said that Karachi railway division has an allocation for 10 trains but he will ensure that at least nine trains are operated daily from here. The DS Railway said he would ensure that allocated locomotives are properly maintained to reduce the percentage of defective locomotives and bring them on the track by ensuring their effective repair.
Aftab Memon said that passenger amenities in Karachi railway division will also be ensured along with provision of quick reservation at Karachi City, Cantonment, Landhi, Kotri, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Tandoadam, Dadu and Sehwan Railway stations. He said that he is taking steps for computerised reservation system at Kotri, Sehwan, Dadu, Mirpurkhas and Tandoadam railway stations and connect them with overall PR Netork within 3 months.
He informed that a spacious air-conditioned waiting hall is being constructed at Karachi Cantonment Railway Station with a seating capacity for six hundred passengers.
The DS Railway stated that railway's inquiry office is being modernised and converted into a voice answering system as is in vogue in PIA to provide spontaneous response to queries by people about arriving and departing trains. According to him parking arrangements at Cantonment Railway Station are being streamlined with a separate drop line facility.
He said under the new arrangement, more than 300 vehicles could be parked in the parking lot. Memon said that Reservation Office at Cantonment Railway Station is being improved whereby all the upper and lower class reservation counters will be manned to reduce queues well before Eid rush. He said Eid reservation has been started a month in advance.