LAHORE: International tenders for the Main Line-1 (ML-1) are likely to be invited within next 15 days, paving way for initiating civil work on Pakistan Railways’ mega project by January next year.

The tenders will however be limited to seeking interest of Chinese companies since the project will be funded and executed under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), says a senior PR official.

“We are all set to float international tenders within next 15 days for the award of EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract for the execution of ML-1,” the official told Dawn on Wednesday.

The construction of $6.8 billion ML-I project, which was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in its meeting in first week of this month, is the first mega project of its kind in the history of railways. Under a proposal, the federal government plans to contribute 10 per cent of the total cost of the project as its equity while 90 per cent cost will be met by China under the CPEC.

“Since the PR is responsible for providing right of way of the project, it has almost completed acquisition of the land required between Lalamusa – Rawalpindi section. This has been done for changing of the route (realignment) that will reduce 20km of travel,” the official added.

The project consists of three packages. Under package-1, the existing tracks between Lala Musa and Lahore, Lahore and Multan and Nawab Shah and Rohri would be upgraded/replaced. The package-2 consists of upgrade of the track between Lala Musa and Rawalpindi, Noshehra and Peshawar and Hyderabad and Karachi sections. The package-3 includes upgrade of the remaining portions of the main line, including Multan/Khanewal to Sukkur. According to a document, the project’s core objectives include reduction of logistics cost, efficiency gain for industry and trade, increase in passengers and freight share from four to 20 per cent by 2025 which will ultimately lead to reducing cost of operation and maintenance of roads.

Under a broader scope of work, the project would have upgrade of ML-1 from Karachi to Peshawar and Taxila to Havelian (1,872km), laying of new track allowing 160km/per hour speed, rehabilitation and construction of bridges, provision of modern signaling and telecom systems, replacing level crossings with underpasses/flyovers, fencing of track, establishment of dry port near Havelian and upgrade of Walton Training Academy (Lahore).

The project will create 24,000 direct and 150,000 indirect jobs for local labour/technical experts.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2020