KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) has assigned the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) to construct underpasses on the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) tracks, ordering it to complete the work in six months from the date of the award of the contract.
According to a written order released on Thursday of the three-member bench of the SC headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Justice Gulzar Ahmed, in the KCR revival case, the secretary, Pakistan Railways, told the court that nine kilometers of tracks for the KCR had already been laid, but that the laying of further tracks had been stopped for the reason that the Sindh government had not yet constructed underpasses which were required to be constructed by them for the smooth running of the KCR.
The Secretary, Transport, Sindh, submitted that the provincial government had already approved five billion rupees for this project, out of which three billion rupees had already been released for construction of ten underpasses. The secretary of transport further stated that there were 14 locations where there was scant traffic movement, and there was, apparently, no need for construction of underpasses at such sites.
According to him, level-crossings/overhead bridges etc. would be enough for the smooth running of the KCR.
He, however, stated that in case such arrangements were inadequate, the Sindh government shall arrange for construction of more underpasses to facilitate smooth functioning of KCR.
The court ordered that the Sindh government shall ensure that whatever traffic was coming to these places was diverted to the underpasses which it had proposed to construct.
In view of the urgency of the matter and the dire need to resolve the problem of overcrowding on roads and to grant some relief to the people of Karachi, it has been suggested that the FWO be deputed to construct the underpasses in question owing to their experience and expertise in the field.
The court observed that the suggestion was reasonable and in the public interest, and, accordingly, it directed that the FWO be commissioned to construct the underpasses within a period of six months from the date of the award of the contract, formalities for which shall be completed as expeditiously as possible and not later than one month from the date of this order.
The court directed the Pakistan Railways to continue its work regarding laying of tracks of the KCR and will coordinate with the Sindh government contractor in ensuring that whatever work is required to be done by the Sindh government is done by it in accordance with the requirements and priorities of Pakistan Railways.
The court also ordered Pakistan Railways to ensure that all tracks on both sides are protected by proper fencing from beginning to the end.
The Sindh government had already taken up fencing of both sides, and it was stated by the secretary of transport that such fencing would be completed within three months.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020