Karachi Circular Railway (KCR)
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Almost 100 houses demolished in Karachi anti-encroachment drive
KMC, with the help of heavy machinery, bulldozed around 100 concrete houses within 50 feet of the KCR track from Gujjar Nullah to Nazimabad. Some of the affected residents started to demolish the illegal constructions themselves.
KARACHI: Almost 100 concrete structures and residential units located within 50 feet of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) track, from Gujjar Nullah to Nazimabad, were razed in the on-going anti-encroachment drive on Wednesday with the help of heavy machinery. The operation faced delay due to resistance from the residents.
Railways authorities, district administration and police participated in the operation which continued for the 12th day. Lady police officials were also deployed for security reasons.
Pakistan Railways (PR) Property Land Deputy Director Dilawar Hussain said that the operation was launched on the orders by the Supreme Court. He said that around 150 concrete residential units were erected in the surroundings of Nazimabad Railway track which will be razed. He said that 75% of the operation has been completed in district Central and efforts are under way to remove as many encroachments as possible. “We’re trying our best to revive the railway tracks soon,” he added. The KCR track in the Central district would be cleared in three to four days, he assured.
The residents are worried about finding an alternative place to live. During the operation, some of the affectees kept moving their things elsewhere to vacate the place while others started to demolish the illegal constructions. But some of the residents maintained obstinacy and tried to stop the operation.
While addressing the federal government, the affected residents said that only a few days were left before Eid. They said that they could have arranged alternative places if the operation was launched after Eid. They asked how the children would spend their Eid days without a home.
The residents said that they have been living in the area for years and the authorities cannot expel them from their homes like this. The federal government has done nothing but ruined their lives and the country would not progress even after the revival of KCR, they warned.
The operation began at 9:30am from Gujjar Nala and continued till 5pm.
KMC, with the help of heavy machinery, bulldozed around 100 concrete houses within 50 feet of the KCR track from Gujjar Nullah to Nazimabad. Some of the affected residents started to demolish the illegal constructions themselves.
KARACHI: Almost 100 concrete structures and residential units located within 50 feet of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) track, from Gujjar Nullah to Nazimabad, were razed in the on-going anti-encroachment drive on Wednesday with the help of heavy machinery. The operation faced delay due to resistance from the residents.
Railways authorities, district administration and police participated in the operation which continued for the 12th day. Lady police officials were also deployed for security reasons.
Pakistan Railways (PR) Property Land Deputy Director Dilawar Hussain said that the operation was launched on the orders by the Supreme Court. He said that around 150 concrete residential units were erected in the surroundings of Nazimabad Railway track which will be razed. He said that 75% of the operation has been completed in district Central and efforts are under way to remove as many encroachments as possible. “We’re trying our best to revive the railway tracks soon,” he added. The KCR track in the Central district would be cleared in three to four days, he assured.
The residents are worried about finding an alternative place to live. During the operation, some of the affectees kept moving their things elsewhere to vacate the place while others started to demolish the illegal constructions. But some of the residents maintained obstinacy and tried to stop the operation.
While addressing the federal government, the affected residents said that only a few days were left before Eid. They said that they could have arranged alternative places if the operation was launched after Eid. They asked how the children would spend their Eid days without a home.
The residents said that they have been living in the area for years and the authorities cannot expel them from their homes like this. The federal government has done nothing but ruined their lives and the country would not progress even after the revival of KCR, they warned.
The operation began at 9:30am from Gujjar Nala and continued till 5pm.
ghazi52
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SC directs ML-1 railway project to be completed in 2 years, KCR in 3 months
February 12, 2020
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed speak to the media outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad on Wednesday. —
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday said that the ML-1 train line should be made fully functional in the next two years while the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project should be completed in the next three months.
A three member bench — comprising Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah — heard a case pertaining to the losses incurred by Pakistan Railways.
There will be dire consequences if the timeline given for the completion of the railway projects is not followed strictly, the court warned.
Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told the court that 85 per cent of the track for KCR has been cleared.
"We carried out an operation last night as well and razed a few buildings to the ground," Rashid said, assuring the court that work was being done to make KCR functional again.
Rashid also thanked the court for taking interest in the case, "We are grateful to you, a lot of work has been done in the past 12 days," he said.
"We are grateful to you, the whole nation is grateful," Justice Gulzar said in response while adding that the KCR is a "project for the people and not one individual. We want to bring good to people."
"Do not give the KCR project to Sindh government, keep it with yourself," Justice Gulzar told Sheikh Rashid while adding that KCR will end up like the Karachi transport system.
"We were hoping to even run trams in Karachi," the chief justice said.
He also asked the railways minister why the KCR was made part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). "We added it to CPEC because of [our] financial situation," Rashid responded.
"China will give an expensive loan for KCR," the chief justice observed.
"If railways sells off some of its land it will be able to fix its own financial situation," the chief justice said. "Selling a single property from Karachi will fix the railway's financial system. But the court has put a stay on selling these properties," Rashid responded.
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, who had been summoned to present the business plan for railways to the court, said that completing the project in three months will not be possible.
"You are saying that this can't be done [...] the project will be faced with delays while people are waiting for it [to be finished]," said the chief justice while stressing that that Pakistan Railways should not let its people sleep and "order them to work."
"Sheikh sahib when will the ribbon be cut for the project?" the chief justice asked about the KCR project.
"The country's financial situation is not too well at the moment. The real issue is that a large amount of funding is required for this project," Umar told the court in response.
"The Japanese people have been asking you over and over again about this project," the chief justice said to which Umar responded that the Sindh government will have to provide an answer for that.
Hearing this, the bench summoned a reply on the matter from the Sindh government in the next hearing. Umar also asked the court to tell the Sindh government to ensure action on the KCR project.
"Asad Umar, you are very respectable for us but you are not doing anything for railways," the chief justice said.
"We will present the 1,880 kilometres-long ML-1 project in front of the CDWP on March 10," Umar responded while adding that the project will also be approved by Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on April 12," Umar told the court in response.
The court then enquired about the timeline for the completion of the project.
"From the day that it starts, the project will be finished in five years," Rashid told the court while adding that the Chinese will also be "satisfied with this project."
The hearing of the case pertaining to losses incurred by railways was adjourned for two months.
The hearing on KCR was adjourned until Feb 21; the next one will be held at the SC Karachi registry, where the railways minister and the Sindh chief secretary have been summoned.
February 12, 2020
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed speak to the media outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad on Wednesday. —
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday said that the ML-1 train line should be made fully functional in the next two years while the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project should be completed in the next three months.
A three member bench — comprising Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah — heard a case pertaining to the losses incurred by Pakistan Railways.
There will be dire consequences if the timeline given for the completion of the railway projects is not followed strictly, the court warned.
Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told the court that 85 per cent of the track for KCR has been cleared.
"We carried out an operation last night as well and razed a few buildings to the ground," Rashid said, assuring the court that work was being done to make KCR functional again.
Rashid also thanked the court for taking interest in the case, "We are grateful to you, a lot of work has been done in the past 12 days," he said.
"We are grateful to you, the whole nation is grateful," Justice Gulzar said in response while adding that the KCR is a "project for the people and not one individual. We want to bring good to people."
"Do not give the KCR project to Sindh government, keep it with yourself," Justice Gulzar told Sheikh Rashid while adding that KCR will end up like the Karachi transport system.
"We were hoping to even run trams in Karachi," the chief justice said.
He also asked the railways minister why the KCR was made part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). "We added it to CPEC because of [our] financial situation," Rashid responded.
"China will give an expensive loan for KCR," the chief justice observed.
"If railways sells off some of its land it will be able to fix its own financial situation," the chief justice said. "Selling a single property from Karachi will fix the railway's financial system. But the court has put a stay on selling these properties," Rashid responded.
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, who had been summoned to present the business plan for railways to the court, said that completing the project in three months will not be possible.
"You are saying that this can't be done [...] the project will be faced with delays while people are waiting for it [to be finished]," said the chief justice while stressing that that Pakistan Railways should not let its people sleep and "order them to work."
"Sheikh sahib when will the ribbon be cut for the project?" the chief justice asked about the KCR project.
"The country's financial situation is not too well at the moment. The real issue is that a large amount of funding is required for this project," Umar told the court in response.
"The Japanese people have been asking you over and over again about this project," the chief justice said to which Umar responded that the Sindh government will have to provide an answer for that.
Hearing this, the bench summoned a reply on the matter from the Sindh government in the next hearing. Umar also asked the court to tell the Sindh government to ensure action on the KCR project.
"Asad Umar, you are very respectable for us but you are not doing anything for railways," the chief justice said.
"We will present the 1,880 kilometres-long ML-1 project in front of the CDWP on March 10," Umar responded while adding that the project will also be approved by Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on April 12," Umar told the court in response.
The court then enquired about the timeline for the completion of the project.
"From the day that it starts, the project will be finished in five years," Rashid told the court while adding that the Chinese will also be "satisfied with this project."
The hearing of the case pertaining to losses incurred by railways was adjourned for two months.
The hearing on KCR was adjourned until Feb 21; the next one will be held at the SC Karachi registry, where the railways minister and the Sindh chief secretary have been summoned.
ghazi52
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KCR loop can be redesigned as a BRT common corridor
The revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) has become a Catch-22 situation for Sindh as well as the federal government as they have failed to meet several deadlines given by the Supreme Court to start the project’s operations.
In a story about the KCR published on February 19, The News reported that the circular railway could turn into a white elephant due to heavy subsidy requirements. Based on a feasibility study and PC-1 of the project, it was found that the KCR would incur an average yearly loss of Rs7.08 billion that had to be covered through subsidy.
This story delves into the possibility of the circular railway track being converted into a bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor and tries to find out if such a BRT project would serve the purpose of the KCR by resolving the transport issues of the city through sustainable operations.
Nearly impossible
In its latest order on Friday, the SC directed the federal and provincial governments to make the KCR operational within six months and warned that not doing so could result in contempt proceedings against both the prime minister and the Sindh chief minister.
Despite the judicial order, ensuring the complete operation of the circular railway in a passage of six months seems beyond the realms of possibility due to various reasons.
There are structures built in the right of way of the KCR, which the Supreme Court has directed to demolish. However, according to Zahid Farooq, the director of non-governmental organisation Urban Resource Centre, the Sindh government, in a survey conducted in its partnership with the Japan International Corporation Agency (Jica), promised to resettle the families to be displaced and identified Juma Goth as the location where they would be shifted to. Farooq says resettling all such affected families would require an ample amount of time — certainly more than six months.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/618...ommon-corridor
The revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) has become a Catch-22 situation for Sindh as well as the federal government as they have failed to meet several deadlines given by the Supreme Court to start the project’s operations.
In a story about the KCR published on February 19, The News reported that the circular railway could turn into a white elephant due to heavy subsidy requirements. Based on a feasibility study and PC-1 of the project, it was found that the KCR would incur an average yearly loss of Rs7.08 billion that had to be covered through subsidy.
This story delves into the possibility of the circular railway track being converted into a bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor and tries to find out if such a BRT project would serve the purpose of the KCR by resolving the transport issues of the city through sustainable operations.
Nearly impossible
In its latest order on Friday, the SC directed the federal and provincial governments to make the KCR operational within six months and warned that not doing so could result in contempt proceedings against both the prime minister and the Sindh chief minister.
Despite the judicial order, ensuring the complete operation of the circular railway in a passage of six months seems beyond the realms of possibility due to various reasons.
There are structures built in the right of way of the KCR, which the Supreme Court has directed to demolish. However, according to Zahid Farooq, the director of non-governmental organisation Urban Resource Centre, the Sindh government, in a survey conducted in its partnership with the Japan International Corporation Agency (Jica), promised to resettle the families to be displaced and identified Juma Goth as the location where they would be shifted to. Farooq says resettling all such affected families would require an ample amount of time — certainly more than six months.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/618...ommon-corridor
ghazi52
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Sindh Govt Allocates Rs. 207 billion for Revival of Karachi Circular Railway
In order to meet the transportation requirements of the megacity, Karachi Circular Railway could play a pivotal role as determined by the Sindh Government which has allocated Rs. 207.5 billion for its revival.
The project is expected to be operational in six to ten months depending on the pace of work in the prevailing scenario. However, it has been reported that the railway lines which were encroached on and turned into shantytowns were removed by 70 percent.
The provincial government also allocated Rs. 3 billion for construction of underpasses and overhead bridges over railway crossing along the KCR route.
In order to meet the transportation requirements of the megacity, Karachi Circular Railway could play a pivotal role as determined by the Sindh Government which has allocated Rs. 207.5 billion for its revival.
The project is expected to be operational in six to ten months depending on the pace of work in the prevailing scenario. However, it has been reported that the railway lines which were encroached on and turned into shantytowns were removed by 70 percent.
The provincial government also allocated Rs. 3 billion for construction of underpasses and overhead bridges over railway crossing along the KCR route.
ghazi52
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CJP orders to make Karachi Circular Railway operational this year
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed.
The operations of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) should start its operations this year, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed directed officials.
The CJP issued the instructions to secretary railways during the hearing of a case pertaining to the restoration of the mass-transit system at the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry.
CJP Gulzar rejected the statement of secretary transport regarding the rehabilitation of the KCR track in the city and also reprimanded the secretary railways.
"[The] time we had given you for the restoration of the circular railway was running out and we would take contempt action against you," the CJ remarked.
The secretary transport informed the court that there were 24 crossings on the track and that underpasses or overhead bridges needed to be constructed at 10 intersections.
He added that from these 10 crossings more than 2000 vehicles pass through while the remaining 14 intersections have no traffic.
“Rs5 billion have been allocated for the construction and the tender process will be completed this week,” secretary transport said.
To this, the chief justice remarked: "Will you continue to extend the time like this or will the process ever be completed? Work on the superhighway is not complete yet, you will spend five to ten years in the project."
The CJP then inquired about the time required for the construction of gates, to which the secretary railways said that it would take six more months.
Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed then told the official to keep this in mind that the KCR has to run this year.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed.
The operations of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) should start its operations this year, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed directed officials.
The CJP issued the instructions to secretary railways during the hearing of a case pertaining to the restoration of the mass-transit system at the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry.
CJP Gulzar rejected the statement of secretary transport regarding the rehabilitation of the KCR track in the city and also reprimanded the secretary railways.
"[The] time we had given you for the restoration of the circular railway was running out and we would take contempt action against you," the CJ remarked.
The secretary transport informed the court that there were 24 crossings on the track and that underpasses or overhead bridges needed to be constructed at 10 intersections.
He added that from these 10 crossings more than 2000 vehicles pass through while the remaining 14 intersections have no traffic.
“Rs5 billion have been allocated for the construction and the tender process will be completed this week,” secretary transport said.
To this, the chief justice remarked: "Will you continue to extend the time like this or will the process ever be completed? Work on the superhighway is not complete yet, you will spend five to ten years in the project."
The CJP then inquired about the time required for the construction of gates, to which the secretary railways said that it would take six more months.
Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed then told the official to keep this in mind that the KCR has to run this year.
ghazi52
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Officials told to speed up KCR restoration work
Rs3 billion had been allocated for the purpose
August 10, 2020
KARACHI: Pakistan Railways chairperson Habibur Rehman Gilani has directed the relevant officials to expedite work for the restoration of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) in order to facilitate the residents of the port city.
Gilani held a meeting regarding the KCR's revival on Sunday and also visited various stations and level crossings of the intra-city railway, from City Railway Station to Drigh Road Railway Station, en route Baldia, Shah Latif, SITE and other stations.
The chairperson expressed concern over hazardous substances being disposed of on the KCR track in SITE, upon which Karachi divisional superintendent Arshad Salam Khattak informed him that the Sindh government had been approached to resolve the issue and it would soon be fixed.
Furthermore, after examining the location where the Green Line bus rapid transit route crossed paths with the KCR track in Nazimabad, he urged officials to boost communication with the relevant authorities so that the proposed underpasses or overhead bridges could be completed on time.
KCR project director Ameer Mohammad Daudpota apprised Gilani that they had held various meetings with the provincial government and Rs3 billion had been allocated for the purpose.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2020.
Rs3 billion had been allocated for the purpose
August 10, 2020
KARACHI: Pakistan Railways chairperson Habibur Rehman Gilani has directed the relevant officials to expedite work for the restoration of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) in order to facilitate the residents of the port city.
Gilani held a meeting regarding the KCR's revival on Sunday and also visited various stations and level crossings of the intra-city railway, from City Railway Station to Drigh Road Railway Station, en route Baldia, Shah Latif, SITE and other stations.
The chairperson expressed concern over hazardous substances being disposed of on the KCR track in SITE, upon which Karachi divisional superintendent Arshad Salam Khattak informed him that the Sindh government had been approached to resolve the issue and it would soon be fixed.
Furthermore, after examining the location where the Green Line bus rapid transit route crossed paths with the KCR track in Nazimabad, he urged officials to boost communication with the relevant authorities so that the proposed underpasses or overhead bridges could be completed on time.
KCR project director Ameer Mohammad Daudpota apprised Gilani that they had held various meetings with the provincial government and Rs3 billion had been allocated for the purpose.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2020.
ghazi52
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Federal government allocated Rs 10.5 billion for Karachi Circular Railways (KCR), accelerated the implementation of main line 1 (ML 1) under CPEC.
Federal government has allocated Rs 10.5 billion for restoration and implementation of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project under CPEC. Main line 1 (ML 1) railway project like CR The cost has also been allocated in the first and second phase. Project Director Amir Muhammad Dawood Potta said that there is a full consensus in the federal and provincial government regarding the restoration of KCR. He further said KCR Project. There is no major obstacle in recovery.
Federal government has allocated Rs 10.5 billion for restoration and implementation of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project under CPEC. Main line 1 (ML 1) railway project like CR The cost has also been allocated in the first and second phase. Project Director Amir Muhammad Dawood Potta said that there is a full consensus in the federal and provincial government regarding the restoration of KCR. He further said KCR Project. There is no major obstacle in recovery.
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