Upgradation of ML-1’s Karachi-Rohri railway approved

Pakistan Railways' biggest project upgradation of Karachi-Rohri section of ML-1 has been approved, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

Approval has been given for upgrading 480 km track and adding two additional lines.

The project will be extended to Karachi Port by connecting it with the Reko Diq project.

The speed of passenger trains on the new rail line will be 160 km/h and the speed of freight trains will be 120 km/h.

The cost of the project has been estimated at around US$2 billion.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved financing for the ML-1 project.

Once work on the project begins, it will be completed by 2028.

A modern electronic signaling system and centralized traffic control will be installed under the project.

All level crossings will be removed and replaced with flyovers and underpasses.

Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Khairpur and Rohri stations will be upgraded to a new modern design under the project.

Old bridges and the platforms will be completely rebuilt.

The track will also be prepared for electric locomotives in the future.

Copper and gold from Reko Diq will reach Karachi through the same railway network.

Plans to connect Reko Diq to the railway system through Nushki completed.

Both the distance and cost from Reko Diq to Karachi port will be significantly reduced.

The completion of the project is expected to reduce freight costs by 60 percent.

The project will reduce the travel time from Lahore to Karachi to less than 18 hours.

Reporter: Tayyab Saif