KARACHI, March 5: Sindh Minister for Transport Mohammed Adil Siddiqi has said that after succeeding in restarting circular train service in Karachi within a short period of four months and 18 days , the MQM has now included in its agenda the resolution of problems being faced by transporters.

He added that he would soon arrange a meeting between the prime minister and transporters for the purpose.

Addressing a press conference to apprise the media of the first phase of the train service, to be inaugurated formally by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on March 8, the minister said that the phase-I of the Karachi Circular Railway project which had been taken in hand on Oct 21, 2004 had achieved its first goal as the local service was going to be relaunched after a gap of 11 years.

He paid tributes to President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Sindh government, particularly the Haq Parast leadership, for their efforts towards the achievement, and said that under the directive of the MQM chief, Altaf Hussain, the Haq Parast leadership put in great efforts that made implementation of this mega project possible.

The minister told reporters that initially 10 services (five up and five down) would be operated from Tuesday on a 27-km-long track between City Station and Dhabeji covering Cantonment, Karsaz, Chanesar Goth, Malir City, Drigh Road, Model Colony and Landhi stations. Each train would have eight coaches having a total capacity of 1,000 passengers and the entire journey would take one hour and 55 minutes.

The fare for one-way journey has been fixed as low as Rs7 and tickets can be obtained also from train operator within the train. The contract of ticket sales has been awarded to a private firm.

He revealed that there was a proposal submitted to his department about the availability of an air-conditioned coach and a separate coach for women.

He hoped that the service would provide comfortable mode of transport to Karachiites and help reduce traffic pressure as well as pollution in the city.

Mr Siddiqi said the whole project would cost Rs3.5 billion and take three years complete in three phases.

Municipal bonds worth Rs3.5 billion are being issued to generate the funds, according to him.

He said the project would be run by the Karachi Urban Transport, which would function as an autonomous body until converted into a corporation.

The Task Force, set up by the prime minister for this project, has concluded agreements with M/s Global AKD Securities and Pak-Kuwait Investment Company.

The first phase will involve train operation on the main line for which 40 refurbished coaches have already arrived in Karachi and the schedule of train service have been publicised through newspapers.

The minister made mention of the encroachments which had emerged in one year along the rail track from Wazir Mansion to Dhabeji stations, and observed that its volume was much higher than that of the lands along the Lyari Expressway which had emerged in 56 years.

He also pointed out that tracks were uprooted, platforms damaged and at some places even level-crossings had gone, whereas at some stations bachat bazaars were being organized.-APP