ISLAMABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah informed the Supreme Court on Friday that the provincial cabinet had approved a single-source contract to the Frontier Works Organisation for the construction of underpasses and overhead bridges on railway crossings falling along the proposed route of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR).

“However, as directed by the court, the cabinet in its meeting of Aug 20 had approved the single source to the FWO, as desired by the Supreme Court,” according to a reply submitted on behalf of the chief minister to the Supreme Court.

At the last hearing on Nov 26, the Supreme Court had issued a contempt notice to CM Shah over perceived foot-dragging on part of the provincial government vis-à-vis the KCR.

The reply explained that for the purpose of awarding contracts, the provincial cabinet was governed by the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) Act of 2009, but still it sought the approval of the cabinet under the SPPRA for foregoing the competitive process of selection of the contractor.

Certain observations were raised during the meeting of Aug 20 regarding the FWO’s experience of constructing overhead bridges or underpasses.

The organisation’s track record while working for Pakistan Railways on a project for the doubling of track (DOT) from Lodhran to Khanewal and from Khanewal to Raiwind was discussed. It was noted that the projects were delayed by almost seven years.

The reply explained that the proposed revival of KCR, as it was in 1984, would not be enough for Karachi’s present-day needs.

The partial revival of local trains (from Pipri to City Station) last month had caused losses to Railways instead of bringing any profits, the reply stated. “With an average ridership of just 25 per cent of the train’s capacity, PR earned an average of only Rs7,500 per day, whereas the expenditure incurred in running of the train was several times higher.”

Rs3bn for underpasses, bridges

Referring to the court’s directives regarding construction of underpasses and overhead bridges on the KCR route, the reply stated that the matter was discussed in internal meetings and despite severe financial constraints and reservations, the Sindh government immediately allocated Rs3 billion in the budget for the construction of these structures.

“I wish to bring to the notice of the court that, apart from new schemes in the health sector (due to Covid-19), the construction of overhead bridges and underpasses along the KCR route was the only new scheme taken up in the provincial budget,” the chief minister informed the apex court.

In compliance with the court order, the Sindh cabinet has assigned the task of building flyovers and underpasses over level-crossings to the Transport and Mass Transit Department, the reply said.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2020