ISLAMABAD: Seemingly obsessed with developing the country’s communications structure, the government has earmarked a staggering Rs77 billion to revive the fledgling Pakistan Railways. Of the total amount, Rs39.5bn has been allocated specifically for infrastructure expansion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2014-15, while the rest of the money will go towards paying salaries and pensions of railway employees.

In his long-winded budget speech on Tuesday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar lamented the fact that for most people trains were not their first-choice mode of transport. Trains are supposed to be the faster, cheaper and more convenient mode of freight and passenger transportation and in the new budget the government is looking to encourage private-sector and international investment to help improve the railways.

A chunk of Rs9bn will be spent on the procurement of 500 high-capacity passenger bogies and 40 power vans. Nearly Rs6.5bn has been allocated for the procurement and/or manufacturing of 50 locomotives during the year 2014-15 whereas Rs4.6bn will be utilised for the manufacturing or procurement of another set of 75 diesel locomotives.

Exim Bank of China has loaned Rs250 million for the procurement or manufacture of 202 new design passenger carriages while another Rs250m has been reserved for the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway.

The government also intends to spend Rs800m for the replacement of old and obsolete signal gear on the main line from Lodhran/Khanewal to Shahdara and Badami Bagh. This project has been sanctioned by the Islamic Development Bank.

For the rehabilitation of 159 dilapidated rail bridges, the government has earmarked Rs60m while Rs757m will be allocated for rehabilitation of track on the Khanpur-Lodhran section.

The government plans to spend Rs441m to double rail tracks from Khanewal to Raiwind and Rs1bn has been allocated for a pilot project for the mechanisation of track maintenance. Around Rs450m has been earmarked for another pilot project to manufacture five 3,000 horsepower locomotives.

The government has also launched 14 new development schemes to revamp rail network, including the earmarking of Rs60m for a feasibility study for a new rail link from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad via the Murree hill station. For this, a new company named Kashmir Railways will be established to construct and manage this exceptional project in the scenic Galiyat and Azad Kashmir.

Another Rs150m has been allocated for a feasibility study on the construction of a dedicated freight corridor to transport coal from Karachi to Lahore.

Under the list of new schemes, the government has also set aside Rs500m for the procurement of equipment to improve security.

Around Rs5m has been sanctioned for the upgradation of railway stations in Quetta, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar and Rs94m for the replacement of two 1000KW power turbines at the Railway Power House in Mughalpura, Lahore.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2014