Three Phase Revival of KCR Project

KEY POINTS:

• Tracks restoration areas
• Phase 1: nine platforms re-establishing
• Phase 2: Train numbers and capacity
• Phase 3: modern urban transit system

The minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced the three phases of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) to be revived with tracks re-

establishing from Karachi City to Orangi Town leading to Gilani station then ending to Drug Colony. He went to Islamabad Carriage Factory for the inspection of reformation of coaches.

He previously shared about the revival scheme for Karachi Circular Railways working on full speed on 27th September, 2020.
There will be 20 stations in total out of which 5 are under way while 15 are in the streamline. There are around 24 crossing levels on the track. Sheikh Rashid before retiring from the ministry will give promotion of one grade to the workers of Pakistan Railways. He said: “I already promoted the workers after I joined the ministry, and I will promote them again before leaving.”
Sheikh Rashid recently shared details about the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) when it was about to start.

The first project work is under process and for the reconstruction of nine platforms and stations and around 15 level crossings have been assigned Rs 150 million. Telecommunications and electrical signal tenders have been issued for Rs 50 million recently in July. 
The track of KCR is overall focusing on 44 kilometers out of which 30 kilometers is on loop while 14 kilometers is on mainline. For the renovation and repairing 10 locomotives and 40 coaches have been delivered for the project to the carriage factory.

In second phase on KCR project will rehabilitate on cost of Rs 8.7 billion. The number of trains will increase from 32 to 48 after it gets upgraded and the capacity will also be expanded from 16,000 to 24,000. The journey duration of half an hour will be decreased to 19 minutes.

The modern urban transit system will be installed in the project as an upgradation under private partnership of public in third phase of KCR project. 

Mr. Rashid in the start of 2020 gradually gave updates about the KCR project and now it has reached to new levels of approaching three phases for revamping.