LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways (PR) has decided to prepare an integrated Annual Development Programme (ADP) that will focus on resolving critical issues of trains’ operation and rehabilitate the existing decaying track from Karachi to Peshawar.

The PR has also issued a red alert over the coronavirus situation in the country, directing its entire divisional superintendents to ensure precautionary measures.

“It is true that various stretches of the existing track is not good and that is causing accidents. That is why we have asked our 10 departments in the PR to prepare an integrated ADP that could overcome the critical issues including rehabilitation of the track at various portions,” Federal Secretary for Ministry of Railways / PR Board chairman Dr Habib Ur Rehman Gilani told Dawn.

Since the entire trains operations continue to be in trouble, the PR and its huge number of passengers found 2019 the worst year as a number of accidents including the horrible Tezgam fire tragedy in October exposed wrong decision-making and incompetence allegedly on the part of the management.

Integrated plan to include smooth trains’ operations, rehabilitation of track

Many passengers including the railways employees died or were injured in more than 100 accidents last year but the officials kept making tall claims of improving the department’s performance (launching new trains and increasing revenue) despite severe public criticism. Besides fatal / non fatal accidents, 111 incidents of engine failure on the way were also reported within first five months of the last year.

According to Mr Gilani, the PR lacks proper planning to overcome various critical issues. “Unfortunately, the PR has no attention on planning, launching and completing various important projects. If they (the rail officers) find one thing not in order, they all run after this at the cost of other matters.

In 2011, there was an issue of locomotive shortage. So all started running after it, ignoring track rehabilitation, replacing old passenger coaches with new ones etc,” he explained.

“That’s why, we have sought an integrated ADP to cover issues of eight to 10 critical departments. Under this each department will explain the issues and how to resolve these,” he said.

Besides seeking this integrated ADP, the chairman said, the PR administration had started monitoring of its field staff, especially (Assistant Executive Engineers -- AENs and their subordinates -- gangmen etc) to ensure proper checking of the track round the clock. During monitoring, the officers will ensure fixing of the faults in case of any problem. “And if the field staff fails to do so, their supervisory staff (AENs or any other of grade 17) will be held responsible and taken to task,” Mr Gilani warned.

He said it was decided to do so keeping in view the complaints related to absence of field staff from their duty.

As for the issue of ticketless passengers, he said the PR had also decided to increase fines on such travellers from 20 to 40 per cent. And it would gradually be taken to 100 per cent within next two months.

“Actually, sometimes, our trains’ staff (special ticket examiners), ticket collectors, police officials etc get indulged in corruption by releasing ticketless passengers by taking money (bribe). Similarly, such passengers don’t mind paying a fine of 20 per cent. That is why the fine ratio has been increased to force such travellers to buy tickets,” he added.

He said there was no plan to curtail or halt the trains’ operation across the country since it was the only affordable mode of transport facility for the people. Moreover, he said the coaches provided sufficient space between passenger to passenger at seats compared to buses and planes.

“So, the PR admin at present feels no threat of coronavirus spread among the passengers travelling by trains.”

The officers have started implementing precautionary measures. “Under this, the DSs have started visiting railway stations and trains. Moreover the doctors’ teams representing hospitals and dispensaries of the PR are also visiting the stations and trains and separating the passengers having symptoms of flu, cough etc from others for screening purposes,” the PR chairman maintained.

He said the entire meetings scheduled at the ministry for Monday (today) including one on the Karachi Circular Rail (KCR) had been cancelled.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2020