KARACHI: The Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project will help minimise traffic overcrowding and ensure traffic flow in the metropolis.
This was stated by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad while talking to a delegation of China Social Economic Academy and China Railways led by Vin at Governor House. Karachi Commissioner Syed Asif Hyder Shah was also present.
The Sindh governor said that KCR was an integral part of Karachi Mass Transit and its early initiation was need of the hour. “It has already been delayed due to various reasons but now was the time to start the same including other mega projects to make the provincial capital a truly modernise city.
Dr Ebad said that any metropolis is known by its communication and transportation network specially roads and means of transport. For this very reason special emphasis is being laid on construction of various new corridors and also development of other mode of transport, he added.
While briefing the governor, Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) managing director informed that total length of KCR is 43.12 km and its estimated cost is $2.609 billion. It would have 24 stations and the maximum speed of the train would by 100 km per hour with average speed of 40 km per hour, he added. The MD further informed that trains would operate from 6 am to 11 pm.
KCR was closed in December 1999 due to lack of passengers, he said, adding that boundary wall would be constructed around the track of KCR so as to protect the same from encroachers and illegal occupants.
He said that China was the most close and reliable friend of Pakistan which has always stood by Pakistan in most testing times. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was another proof of the cordially relations between both the countries, he added. He said that CPEC was the project of prosperity of Pakistan for which all Pakistanis are thankful to Chinese people and the government. “CPEC would not only improve infrastructure facilities but would also provide ample employment opportunities and increase industrial production,” he maintained.
