10-day drive to clear KCR track of encroachments starts today

Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani has directed the relevant authorities to carry out an anti-encroachment operation on both sides of the Karachi Circular Railways’ (KCR) track within a 50-feet limit from Wednesday (today).

Shallwani has also made the assurance to have it all cleared within 10 days and then submitting a report to the Supreme Court. He said he would pay a visit to the KCR tracks on Saturday, before Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed’s visit.

Presiding over a high-level meeting at his office on Tuesday for the revival of the KCR in the light of the SC’s decision, the commissioner said that this is their collective effort to resolve the issue for the benefit of the city’s commuters.

According to a statement issued by the Commissioner House, Railways Divisional Superintendent Syed Mazhar Ali Shah briefed the meeting on how the KCR was included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and how important the project had now become.

West Deputy Commissioner Zahid Memon said that 4.5km out of 7.5km has already been cleared of all encroachments, and now that is open for the KCR.

Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) Managing Director Iqtidar Ahmed informed the meeting that after getting done with the anti-encroachment operation, they would go for the fencing of the railway track, for which they have already issued tenders.

“In this regard, technical proposal has been invited in accordance with the commitment of the Sindh government to take over the KCR,” added the MD. Karachi Urban Transport Corporation project director Shaikh Talib Fatah informed the meeting that the company will take over the KCR from the Pakistan Railways and hand it over to the SMTA.