LAHORE, Nov 16: Replacement of the existing meter gauge track with broad gauge on the Khokhrapar-Monabao section is in final stages and is likely to be completed within the next four or five days, it is learnt. An official working on the Khokhrapar-Monabao rail link upgradation plan told Dawn on Wednesday the 110km existing meter gauge track had been replaced with broad gauge.

“At present, the track is being replaced mechanically with the help of cranes. Two kilometres of the existing line are being replaced daily on an average with broad gauge and we are confident new track will be ready ahead of the schedule,” he said.

Work was simultaneously started both from the ends of Khokhrapar and Mirpurkhas in mid-May this year, he said.

“There are 135 bridges on the section and work on 85 of them, including six main bridges, is in full swing nowadays. The construction of 32 box culvert bridges is in final stages while over half of the work on 54 hume pipe bridges has been completed,” the official said.

From Mirpurkhas to Jamaro, some 8.64km track will remain both meter and broad gauge so that meter gauge trains continue to carry passengers and goods to Pithoro via Jhudo and back.

The government had approved the project to replace the 135km meter gauge track with broad gauge from Mirpurkhas to Zero Line (border) which is some 8kms from Khokhrapar.

A decision to resume the rail link, severed during the September 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, was taken during the visit of President Pervez Musharraf to India.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has directed the railways authorities to complete the project by year end by extending the line for another 10 kilometres up to Monabao in Rajasthan to re-establish a second Indo-Pakistan train service.

The resumption of the Khokhrapar-Monabao rail link will minimize the journey between India and Pakistan to five hours. At present, people have to travel through Lahore.