Railways ministry impeding completion of KCR, says CM

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday warned the federal railways ministry against creating hurdles in the long delayed and much awaited Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project.

“I would like to explicitly convey to the railways ministry that the land for the KCR belongs to the people of Karachi. If the right of way for KCR is denied, we [the provincial government] will be compelled to retake possession of the land,” the chief minister said on Friday while presiding over a meeting at the New Sindh Secretariat.

The meeting was held to prepare for the CPEC-related Joint Coordination Committee’s (JCC) meeting to be held in Islamabad on November 20 and 21.

The chief minister was told that the railway authorities were reluctant to hand over control of the Karachi Urban Transport Company (KUTC) to the Sindh government. Also, they were delaying the handover of the portion from City Station to Drigh Road Station for the KCR.

CM Shah expressed serious displeasure over the matter and accused the railways ministry of ‘never having been sincere to the KCR project’. “Ever since the KCR was confirmed as a CPEC project, the railways ministry has been creating hurdles in its execution,” he said.

“However, I want to make it clear that the railway land in Sindh belongs to the provincial government and it will only be used for the benefit of the people of this province.”

The chief minister directed Sindh Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon to conduct a dialogue with the railway authorities. “I will also speak to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to settle the issue. We worked day and night to have the project included in the CPEC and will make sure that it reaches completion,” said CM Shah.

He vowed to complete the KCR project and directed the chief secretary to talk to the railway authorities. “If they do not agree on handing over the right of way for its construction, we will retake its possession despite knowing that the Pakistan Railways has started its commercial activities and projects,” he said.

The CPEC-related JCC meeting is scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 20 and 21. The Sindh government has completed the necessary documentation for signing the framework agreement of the KCR with Chinese authorities to start the project.

The KCR project has been approved from all the competent forums with a cost of over Rs207 billion. The Sindh chief minister also said his government had removed encroachments from Gulbai, Machhar Colony and other areas for the project.

While all the obstacles, issues and hindrances have been settled, the Ministry of Railways is creating an unnecessary issue just to delay the project, he said. “But I would not allow this. I feel it as a conspiracy against the people of Karachi,” the chief minister said, adding that he knew how to thwart the conspiracies.