Karachiites, who are grappling with the non-existence of a modern transport system in metropolitan, would get New Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) with electric locomotives on the footprints of Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Pakistan Railways Chairman Habib-ur-Rehman Gillani talking exclusively to City42 said: “Pakistan Railways is going to kick start work on “New KCR Project” in Karachi next month as per the Public Private Partnership (PPP). Additionally, Pakistan Railways (PR) is all also set to resume the Karachi Circular Railway operation from November 19.”

The estimated cost of the “New KCR Project” is Rs170 billion. Around 0.4 million passengers will able to commute on state-of-the-art transportation project in the port city. The project will be completed in two and half year’s timeline. For new KCR, the Pakistan Railways will lay down a new track and provide funds for the track while private partners will bear the rest of the cost on the basis of PPP Model.

“Pakistan Railways have a mission to provide a modern Railways system to Karachi,” PR Chairman Habib-ur-Rehman Gillani said.

Pakistan Railways has shared the project details with the Planning Commission and the commission has approved the project.

Gillani said: “New KCR will be an electric-based modern transportation system for Karachi. It will be a gift for Karachiites while this project will be cost-effective. With no crossings in the route, the proposed ‘New KCR’ in Karachi speed will be 60 KM per hour.”

Talking about the Karachi Circular Railways, the Pakistan Railways Chairman said: “On the direction of Supreme Court of Pakistan, KCR 14 KM track has been laid down and locomotives and coaches have also been prepared. Railways have also been working on the improvement of signals. We have completed this KCR project in record time.”

He said KCR trains will run along 60 kilometres distance from Pipri to Orangi stations with four trains in up and down directions. Passengers will be able to commute between Pipri and Orangi stations with a uniform gap of three hours.

According to a 2019 study by car-parts Company ‘Mister Auto’ that looked at 100 major cities, Karachi serves about 42% of Karachi’s commuters, relying on decades-old, overcrowded buses that use the roof as a second deck for passengers at a time.

This report has been contributed by City 42 Reporter Saeed Ahmed.