KARACHI, Sept 2: President Pervez Musharraf is likely to sanction adequate funds for the revival of Karachi Circular Railway, and a final presentation would be given to him on Tuesday at the Governor’s House.

Sources in the transport department said the presentation was scheduled to be given in the previous month, but the president could not arrive here due to his pre-occupation in Islamabad.

The sources said the project cost was more than Rs20 billion and the federal government had assured the Sindh government that funds would be released in instalments and the first tranche would soon be given to the provincial government to initiate the KCR operation so that the KCR could be made operational at the earliest.

President Pervez Musharraf is likely to formally announce the financial grant for the KCR after the presentation to him, the sources added.

They said the feasibility prepared by the private consultants, Engineering Consultants International Limited, was deliberated with a coordinated effort jointly by Karachi Mass Transit Cell and three different committees set up by the Additional Chief Secretary Shahzado Shaikh, officials of Pakistan Railways and other subject specialists.

Recently, the sources said they also visited the existing tracks of the KCR and reviewed its extension to provide the service to more commuters in the city after which a revised plan was prepared. There was a complete consensus on the revised plan among all relevant departments, including provincial and city governments, railway authorities, private consultants and others, the sources added.

According to the revised plan, it would initially consist of two phases with an estimated cost of Rs22 billion. The infrastructure cost has been estimated at Rs8.7 billion and the cost of new rolling stock estimated at Rs11 billion, besides miscellaneous expenditure. The cost of new rolling stock could be reduced if refurbished rolling stock was acquired and a considerable reduction could also be made if new rolling stock was purchased from China, the sources maintained.

They said the phase-I would be completed in over three years with an estimated cost of Rs14 billion. It would include rehabilitation and dualization of 30 kilometres of KCR tracks, which included the laying of new spur of 10km from Nazimabad to North Karachi (power house), an additional dual track of 18km along main railway line and launching a shuttle bus service to the KCR stations on multi-model travel concept, which would cater to the needs of 750,000 passengers daily.

In Phase-II, a new rail-link from Malir Halt to Landhi, Korangi, from Drigh Road to New Karachi, from Baloch Colony to Korangi, and from Drigh Road to Airport, would facilitate an additional 350,000 passengers a day.

The need for the revival of the KCR service has become imperative as it was an efficient mode of mass transportation, and is environment-friendly, cost-effective, affordable, comfortable and a fast mode of transport, sources said.

President Pervez Musharraf during his visit to Karachi in January 2000, when it was brought to his notice that the KCR operation had been suspended on Dec 15, 1999. On the directives of the President, several steps were being taken to make the KCR a viable project.