PM inaugurates Karachi Circular Railway
KARACHI: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz formally inaugurated the first phase of the much-awaited Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said that the KCR was a part of the government’s plans to make Karachi a true megalopolis at par with other big cities in the world.
“It is evident from the opening of this service that we are determined to develop Pakistan,” Aziz said after inaugurating the train service. After the inauguration of the first phase of the KCR, the prime minister, with several cabinet members and city notables, boarded a train at the City Station. The train began with its trademark
whistle. It travelled four kilometres and stopped at the Cantt Station.
The train cars have recently been refurbished in Lahore. The managers have also provided space to accommodate standing travellers. Officials said they had acquired a permanent maintenance staff for cleaning and repairing the cars on a daily basis.
A Lahore-based company has been hired as commercial operator to sell tickets in and outside trains and evolve a mechanism to discourage freeloaders, which was the main cause for the discontinuation of the facility in December 1999.
The prime minister was informed about new facilities introduced in the system. Speaking to reporters, Aziz praised involvement of the private sector in the train service and hoped it would help maintain and continue the service. “Traffic jams and congestion is one of the severest problems of Karachi. With this facility, such problems would not come to an end but I believe that their intensity will certainly decrease,” said Aziz.
He said the project would be revived in three phases in a couple of years or so and that it was the first phase which would also benefit thousands of people living in the southern and eastern districts of the city. He said Rs 3.5 billion would be spent on complete renovation of the circular railway.
The prime minister said his government wanted to provide cost-effective transport facilities to the people and the KCR was one of them.
He noted that in the first phase, trains would be run from the City Station to Landhi after which the entire loop encircling most of the city would be renovated.
Aziz said a mass transit project similar to the one planned for Karachi would be launched in Lahore. The previous governments, he added, had neglected the railways department but the present government was paying full attention to it. The prime minister also hinted at the strong possibility of reopening the Khokhropar-Munabao rail link between India and Pakistan, saying that the government had plans to convert the meter gauge track from Khokhropar to the end of Pakistani territory into the broad gauge. Pakistan has not yet made a formal announcement for reopening the Khokhropar-Munabao border.
The KCR operation was suspended on December 15, 1999, after the railway authorities refused to operate the service due to recurring losses.
Here I found this history for Mass transit projects in karachi.
Quote:
4 Past Efforts Regarding implementation of Mass
Transit Program
In 1995, National Mass Transit Authority (NMTA) was established in
Islamabad to implement Mass Transit System in major cities of
Pakistan. The project of LRT on Corridor – I was approved by NMTA
Council in its meeting chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan
(Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto) on May 14, 1995.
4.1 First Initiative
Subsequently, after bidding process an Implementation
Agreement was signed with M/s. Indus Mass Transit Company
(IMTC) on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) at the cost of US$
586.77 million on 15th January, 1996. However, due to change of
Government and various other reasons the financial close was not
achieved and the agreement was terminated on 6th December,
2001with an amicable settlement. *
Feb, 2012 29
Karachi Mass Transit Program
Investment Opportunities
4.2 Second Initiative
• In 2003, City District Government Karachi (CDGK) initiated fresh
efforts to implement the project on BOT Basis. 7 firms were prequalified
for the Project and only two firms submitted their
proposals: (i) Maglev Levitation Train (on BOT) by M/s American
Maglev Technology (AMT), USA, (ii)Light Rail Transit (on credit
financing ) by China National Machinery & Equipment Corporation
Group (CNMEG).
4.3 Third Initiative
• Subsequently, on the basis of MoU signed with Government of
Sindh dated September 1, 2003 with CNMEG for implementation
of LRT project for Corridor-II on credit Financing, a Preliminary
Implementation Agreement was signed between CDGK and
CNMEG for Corridor-I project on credit financing at the cost of
US$ 569.3873 million with the condition to arrange Sovereign
Guarantee for repayment of Principal and interest amount from
GOP. However, GOP did not agree and directed to opt for BOT.
4.4 Fourth Initiative
• Later on, Planning Commission, GOP constituted a committee to
approach pre-qualified bidders for additional comforts required to
participate in the project implementation. However, CNMEG reconfirmed
its participation on credit financing and AMT and IDC
offered for Meglev system on BOT basis. Therefore, an MoU was
signed on 24th December, 2004 between CDGK and M/s AMT &
IDC for implementation of Magnetic Levitation Train Project at the
cost of US$ 289 million on BOT. However, the same could not be
implemented due to non fulfillment of commitments by the
Bidder.
the red line is the existing track (Nipa to gilani) which is now proposed elevated in KCR plan
it will also intersect with red line BRTS at this place