Karachi Railways Division completing mega projects

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The work on Rs 7 billion project of dualization of railway track from Port Qasim to Bin Qasim Railway station will be completed by June 30, 2017. 

The 11-km long track is being renewed with laying of a new track to facilitate the transportation of coal from Port Qasim to Bin Qasim Railway station for supply to upcountry destination. 

Engr Nisar Memon, the Divisional Superintendent Railways Karachi Division, revealed during an interview that 80 percent work on the existing track has been completed, while plan was afoot for the construction of a new railway station between Port Qasim and Bin Qasim. 

He said that the renewal work on 135-km track between Landhi and Kotri Railway Stations has been completed at a cost of Rs nine billion, adding that the work on strengthening of the track is going and upon completion, the train speed will increase from existing 110 km/hour to 120 Km/hour thus reducing the journey time considerably. 

Replying a question the DS Railways informed that uplift and renovation work of Karachi Cantonment Station was in progress. 

According to him as part of beefed up security measures, the railway authorities have installed two scanners Cantonment Station besides 8-10 walk through gates. 

He said that for security measures entries into station were being sealed. He said that railway is raising the platform of various stations between Karachi City and Tando Adam railway stations and work thereon will be completed by March 2017. 

To another question, Engr Nisar Memon claimed that black marketing of tickets has been minimized through stringent measures taken for the purpose. 

He stated that online advance booking system, introduced on the directive of the Railways Minister, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, has greatly facilitated the traveling public, indicating after the initial slow the response, it’s picking up with every passing day.