The committee formed to look into the proposed Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project in its third and final meeting on Friday finalised its recommendations before the deadline of May 20 given by the Sindh Chief Minister, a press release issued by Commissioner Office said.
Administrator Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Rauf Akhtar Farooqui briefing media after the conclusion of the meeting said the report has been finalised four days before the last date so that the government could go ahead with the project as soon as possible. He said the committee recommendations have covered all aspects of the project for its early implementation.
Managing Director Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) Shamim Shirazi speaking on the occasion informed that JICA first surveyed the project in 2009, for the second time in 2013 and in the first week of May 2014 for the third time along with KUTC representatives for removal of all hurdles and encroachments along the proposed route and verified the findings of two earlier surveys. He said that fast track recommendations have been made for clearing the hurdles in the project.
Secretary Finance Sindh Suhail Rajput briefed the media about the recommendations and proposals and assured of co-operation for early completion of the project. Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui said that the height of the KCR station platforms would be equal to the level of the train floor so that old, children, ill and handicapped people could face no problem in entering into the train.
The Commissioner further informed that the KCR will run on electric traction through which some 6 hundred thousand commuters would travel daily on trains leaving every five minutes. He said both the federal and provincial governments wanted to complete the project soonest possible to facilitate people. The officials representing their respective departments at the eight-member committee attended the meeting.