HYDERABAD: Officers of the Pakistan Railways (PR) concluded a two-day special inspection from Marvi railway station near Khokhropar to Hyderabad on Tuesday evening under supervision of Karachi Railways Divisional Superintendent Arshad Salam Khattak., said a railways press release.

Upon visiting every en route station, the DS met clusters of crowd demanding urgent resumption of train service in their area. “The region is laden with poverty and bus fares have surged exponentially in the aftermath of Covid-19. The PR provides local population with the lowest -possible mode of journey,” said a complainant at Khokhropar station.

Shah Abdul Latif, Marvi and Mehran Express trains were destined between Hyderabad and Khokhropar prior to their suspension earlier this year. Entire railways infrastructure along 200 kilometre track from Marvi station, former Zero point, to Hyderabad was meticulously examined in the two days.

The office record available at all stations, conditions of level crossings, manned as well as unmanned, and durability and strength of bridges were paid special attention. As per customary practice, deputed staff were presented with accidental scenarios and were inquired about troubleshooting techniques to judge their preparedness for coping with untoward incidents.

Cash prizes were given to officials who displayed command and masterful skills in their domain. Regarding settlement of post-retirement payments of employees, Mr Khattak said the ministry of railways had approached the federal government in this regard and soon all liabilities falling under different heads of post-retirement payments would be cleared, the PR said.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2020