The Supreme Court directed the Sindh government to revive Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) in one month by removing the encroachments on its tracks in 15 days. At Karachi Registry, two-member bench of the Supreme Court comprised Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Mazhar Alam also issued orders to the provincial government to revive the tram service in the metropolis.
The SC bench issued these orders in KCR revival case and directed Secretary Railway to vacate the land of KCR track from encroachers. Secretary Railway assured the court that his department would get land of track of KCR vacated and would hand over it to the provincial government.
Justice Gulzar Ahmed said that court would not give more than two weeks to Railway to retrieve the land of KRC track. Court also ordered federal and provincial governments and KMC to provide alternative lands to the affectees of the KCR revival plan.
Secretary Railway told the court that affectees have been identified. He informed court that Railway has declared the housing societies on its land when Justice Gulzar questioned how these societies have emerged.
The court also inquired about Karachi Infrastructure Development Company Limited (KIDCL) and its roles and functions. It was informed that KDICL is working on Green Line Bus project, which was constituted by the federal government.
Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked that local government is responsible for the infrastructure development in Karachi and what the people from outside are doing here.
Meanwhile, SC issued notices to IG Sindh and DG Rangers Sindh to appear in the next hearing about the establishment of police and rangers pickets by encroaching the roads. Court sought complete report from Sindh Rangers & Police as well as from other departments in this regard. The Municipal Commissioner told the court that these pickets have been hindering the flow of traffic on the arteries.