ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways has decided to conduct a fresh feasibility study for connecting Dera Ismail Khan with Quetta under Medium Term Development Framework (2020-25) of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
According to official documents, the fresh input/Terms of Reference (TORs) are being prepared for implementation of the project.
The connectivity of Dera Ismail Khan with Quetta is a part of future Railways Development Plan. The proposed route, 538-Km in length, will connect Quetta with DI Khan via Bostan and Zhob, the documents added.
Giving details of the route, it said, Quetta-Bostan was 33-km, Bostan to Zhob via Muslim, Bagh-Qila Saif-Ullah 295-km, Zhob-DI Khan 185-km and DI Khan-Kotla Jam (near Bhakkar) 25-km.
It is pertinent to mention here that the feasibility study of the project was carried out during 2006-07. Linking this route will develop far flung areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. With the completion of this route, the distance from Quetta to Peshawar will be reduced 670-km as compared to Main Line-I (from Quetta to Peshawar).
