Federal govt, Railways responsible if KCR delayed, says CM Sindh

KARACH: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Friday that the railway department is creating obstacles in the way of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project.

While chairing a meeting here to discuss the projects being executed under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he warned that the federal government and Pakistan Railways will be responsible for any delay in the completion of the KCR project.

The CM was informed that the railway authorities did not want to allocate a portion of railway track for KCR.

The land being used by the railway department was the property of Sindh government, he said and added that therefore, the people of Karachi have first right to the land. The people were deceived before, but he will not let them to be deceived anymore, he resolved.

Later, speaking to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi over phone, the chief minister apprised the former of the railways attitude towards the provincial government, saying Sindh government desired early completion of the project to facilitate people, but the project suffered delays owing to the department’s non-cooperation.

The PM assured Shah of taking all necessary steps to remove hurdles in the way of the project. Abbasi was quoted as saying that he wanted the project to see light of the day at the earliest and the Center will continue to cooperate with Sindh government in this regard.

Earlier, the chief minister had said that the approval of Karachi Circular Railway by Joint Working Group of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a big success for the people of Karachi.

The chief Minister said that CPEC would help build a robust and stable economy in Sindh together with generating sound prospect for the province to revive and expand its road connectivity.

“This will augment a new era of connectivity through which better fruits of economic benefits will be reaped with employment generation and decent mode of transportation,” he said.

Sindh chief minister said that the provincial government, taking cognizance of the importance of KCR, has approved the feasibility and framework agreement and shared with federal government, to meet timelines and initiate this mega project of high priority at the earliest.

“The KCR is the integral part of the comprehensive Mass Transit System envisaged for this mega city,” he said and added there was a high public demand for KCR with ample ridership of 700,000 per day.