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KCR project can

Karachi

Despite the assurances of the federal and provincial governments, the revival of the Karachi Circular Railways seems far from reality unless the Japan International Cooperation Agency extends a loan of $2.41 billion for the project.

Officials of the Karachi Urban Transport Corporation, which is the executing agency of the project, are of the view that the KCR’s revival would remain a dream unless the donor agency provides the required funds.

According to some sources in the KUTC, several surveys have been conducted and almost all the Jica conditions have been met by the local authorities during the past nine years, but the project is yet to be materialise.

They said that in a few meetings of the officials concerned with the Jica representatives in Japan for capacity-building, it was sensed that Jica has some concerns over the deteriorating economy of Pakistan, whose current foreign exchange stands around $5 billion, which is far less than $15 billion during Gen Pervez Musharraf’s regime.

Jica has concerns as to whether the incumbent Pakistani government would be in a position to give sovereign guarantee for the project, they added.

Sources said the Sindh government could do a few things like withdrawing sales and infrastructure levies for the project, which it already did a few days ago, but it could not launch the project in six months as promised by the provincial chief minster in his first speech after assuming the office.

When contacted, KUTC Managing Director Sher Ayaz Khan said an appraisal mission of Jica would be visiting Pakistan in August, after which a loan deal would be negotiated, and if the matter was resolved accordingly and the grant was released, then the first concrete step would be taken next year, following which it would take five years to complete the project.

He said that even the resettlement of the affectees would take a year, adding that Jica consultants were now conducting re-confirmative survey of the affectees and a report in this regard would hopefully be submitted by mid-July, following which the appraisal mission would visit the country.

Responding to a query about the reasons that were delaying the project, including the deteriorating economy, Khan said a lot of surveys have been conducted in this connection, which was primarily only guesswork, but there was nothing in writing as yet.

He said the law and order situation of the metropolis could be a reason, coupled with the poor microfinance condition of the country, creating hurdles in executing the project.

He also said the present financial condition of the Japanese government was also not as sound as it used to be, and the revival of the KCR was directly linked to the provision of $2.6 billion, of which 93 percent grant would be provided by Jica and the remaining would be shared by the Pakistan Railways (60 percent), the Sindh government (25 percent) and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (15 percent).

He said the federal government should take initiative and request the Japanese government to release the loan so that the project could be started.

As per the plan, each of the 4,653 affectees of the KCR would be provided with a constructed house on over 80 square yards plot at the KCR Cooperative Housing Society in Jumma Goth, and the rehabilitation of the affectees would require an amount of Rs4 billion.

According to sources, the surroundings of the 43.2-kilometre track of the KCR have been encroached upon for both commercial and residential purposes.

More than 4,000 residential units and several hundred shops have been illegally constructed on the land of Pakistan Railways, and Jica has accorded top priority to the rehabilitation of these affectees.
 
Karachi development updates?

What guns Karachi Mafia would be upgrading too?

PS: I wonder if they would get caught importing weapons from Israel this time around...
 
Uplift budget for Karachi increases three-fold - thenews.com.pk

The Sindh Government has allocated nearly Rs2,600 million for development projects of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) in the Fiscal Year 2013-14, an increase of around three times from last year. The funds include Rs1,067.419 million for new schemes in the metropolis under the Public Sector Development Programme.

For 2012-13, the Sindh Government’s allocation for development projects stood at Rs883.873 million.

The government made another allocation of Rs 599.516 million for development schemes under the Lyari Development Package, an increase of over Rs150 million compared to last year. This included Rs319.695 million for new development schemes in the area. Rs136.010 million was allocated for repair, renovation, and rehabilitation of existing primary and secondary schools of Lyari.

The allocation for development schemes included Rs142.650 million for the single-lane, two-way flyover at Teen Hatti and Rs532 million for the construction of a new three lane flyover at the Malir-15 intersection. Another Rs386 million would be allocated for the construction of a three-lane flyover at the Malir Halt traffic intersection.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, in his budget speech at the Provincial Assembly on Monday, announced that the improvement of traffic management and transportation systems in Karachi was a priority for his government.

He said that the metropolis was the economic backbone of the country and the efficiency of traffic and transport would increase work hours and therefore enhance productivity.

“The project to revive the Karachi Circular Railways (KCR), with the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency, will enter its implementation phase during the financial year 2013-14,” the chief minister said. “The KCR will have a dual track of 41.12 km with 24 stations at an average distance of 1.5 km. The estimated cost of the project is 2.6 billion. The negotiations with JICA are almost finalised and we are at the stage of signing the loan agreement,” he said.

“The S-III (sewerage treatment) project is one of the major ones in the city with a cost of Rs7,982 million, out of which the federal government has to contribute Rs 3,991 million.” He added that thus far, the federal government released Rs789 million for the project and the government of Sindh contributed Rs 800million.

“Rs1,040 million have been allocated in the Annual development Programme (ADP) for this scheme. The sewage treated through this project will have immense environmental and health related benefits,” Shah said in his speech.

“Another mega project – K-IV – has been approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) at a cost of Rs25.552 billion with 50 percent of the cost to be shared by the Sindh government. Rs1,000 million has been allocated for this project in the ADP 2013-14”.

Through this project, 260 million gallons of water will be supplied to the residents of Karachi on a daily basis. “This project will be a major step towards meeting the ever growing water requirements of Karachi,” said the CM.

“We have also taken up the Bus Rapid Transit Project for Karachi under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, which will be offered for investor solicitation during the next financial year,” he said. “The budgetary allocation has been kept as special packages for improvements of major cities in Sindh.”
 
I think the Saudi groups should be given authority to make Power plants in Karachi industrial zones like in South East and South West.
 
Rescue 1122 soon in Karachi: Qaim

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KARACHI - In pursuance of the directive of President Asif Zardari to start the service of Rescue 1122 in the province of Sindh, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah, held two meetings to review the progress in this regard and will hold another meeting shortly to give approval to the project. The CM said that the new Sindh government had allocated sufficient funds to the health sector and the people would see considerable progress in delivery of health services in the province.

Rescue 1122 soon in Karachi: Qaim | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia
 
FWO starts work on 44km long Zulfikarabad expressway

KARACHI: Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has started construction of 44 kilometres long expressway from Garho-Keti Bunder to the newly planned city of Zulfikarabad in Thatta district. The expressway will be completed by 2015.

According to an official handout, the Managing Director Zulfikarabad Development Authority (ZDA) Lt Gen (retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah visited the development work on Thursday. FWO briefed him about the progress on the work and updated him about the schedule of various activities. The expressway will provide fast speed link to the hub of the first node of the development in the Shah Bunder area.

This 44 kilometres expressway will start from Garho-Keti Bunder Highway, crosses Indus River at Dhandhari and will end near Shah Bunder, where a huge development of Zulfikarabad city is planned. FWO officials have completed the mobilisation of major resources and after completion of the alignment survey it started work on clearing and grubbing and dumping the material for the embankment.

MD ZDA emphasised on quality control and proper implementation of the design to accommodate the local population by providing underpasses for land connection on both sides of the expressway. FWO informed that work started in the mid of August 2013 and will be completed in Apr 2015.

Sector Commander FWO Lt Col M Sangrez and Lt Col Faisal jointly briefed MD ZDA and his team about various aspects and salient features of the expressway development and construction. In the briefing they elucidated on the appraisal of the technical, financial and social impacts of the development work carried out at the site. They also explained that all the planning aspects are being followed to cause minimum damages to the landscape. Meanwhile, ZDA has planned to undertake the IEE of the project after it is approved from SEPA. The policy document has already been submitted to SEPA for review.

They also informed MD ZDA that FWO is also planning to start mobilisation on the east side of the River Indus so that fast speed construction can take place and the benefits can be rendered to the new development during its planning and later development stage as early as possible by such planning initiatives. The expressway will be connected through a bridge on River Indus near Dhandhari which will play great role in the improvement of the life of the locals and businesses of the area.

MD ZDA and his technical team also visited Udasi Village where various options are being considered to follow the best suitable alignment by achieving optimum technical and engineering solution with minimum disturbances to the local inhabitants. Umar Munshi Associates, who are the consultants for ZDA, presented the problem and its tentative solutions which have been suggested after topographical survey of the project.

With this project completed, the two major regions on east and west of the river Indus will get an efficient high quality connection with Thatta and Karachi.

It was informed that land acquisition and settlement issues have been resolved amicably by the Revenue Board by issuing the requisite declarations following the rules and regulations. Local administration has assured an access to the information by establishing an information centre for any query regarding local revenue authorities.

The ZDA MD directed various entities working on the project to establish the project control centres at locations close to the project. He also emphasised that to achieve the target of construction an efficient control mechanism should be put in place.

Director Operation ZDA Engr Shaukat Ali Alvi also requested FWO to review the construction drawings by deploying their in-house team and settle all technical and administrative issues before the construction takes place on the various components of the project.

The area of water crossings should be thoroughly investigated while preparing the site for construction.

http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013\09\06\story_6-9-2013_pg12_6
 
It is about time that the Karachi coast lien should be developed in a proper manner.

Except Sea view the whole sea belt of Karachi is in very bad shape. The 35 km sea coast from Hawks bay to Neelam point are one of the most fascinating beaches, we need to develop them in a similar manner as sea view and port grand city.

Bahria town should start project there and develop the coast line.
 

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