Freight corridor project feasibility report ready

ISLAMABAD: A much awaited feasibility report into a multi-billion rupees freight corridor project, planned between Karachi’s two ports, is ready to be released, the government said on Monday.

Asad Umar, minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives was told at a meeting that the “feasibility study of the freight corridor has been completed.”

Umar chaired a meeting to review the present status of preparation and processing of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and Railways Freight Corridor projects. “It has been decided in the meeting that in order to gauge the level of investor’s interest; all relevant important decisions must be taken within a month’s time by all the concerned departments,” the statement said.

The Pakistan Railways planned to build a dedicated corridor for freight train service between Karachi Port and Pipri yard, for which a 50 kilometre-long double track will be laid. Containers will be transported from Karachi Port to Pipri through freight shuttle trains on the new track. The double track will be built with the assistance of the private sector on the basis of build-operate-transfer.

Containers would be brought from Karachi Port to Pipri Yard where, after customs clearance, goods will be transported to all destinations across the country. Azam Khan Swati, minister for Railways, secretary Planning, secretary Railways, and senior officials of both Ministries participated in the meeting.

Secretary Railway also informed in the meeting that the Karachi Circular Railway project is on track as per the timelines given by the government. “The feasibility study of KCR will be completed by the middle of August,” the statement said.

Keeping in view the importance of this flagship initiative; the meeting decided that a separate project be prepared for the civil structure of KCR for completing the project on a fast track basis.

The PC-1 for civil structures must be brought for processing for approval and subsequent funding through PSDP at the earliest. Simultaneous work on both the components of KCR will result in months of time saving and completion of the project.

Initiated in 1964, the old KCR route started from Drigh Road and ended in downtown Karachi. After suffering losses for years, it ceased operations in 1999. The Karachi Circular Railways revival project includes the transformation of the old route into a mass transit system with the total length of the railway track expected to be 50 kilometers.