LAHORE: Groundbreaking for the launch of civil works on the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project is likely to be held in the next three months, as Pakistan Railways (PR) is working on preparatory works.

“We are expecting to hit the ground in this ground in the next two or three months,” PR Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amir Ali Baloch told Dawn. This is the country’s first mega innovative railway infrastructure scheme planned to be launched under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Mr Baloch also talked about ML-1 while responding to questions from the people at an E-court.

He said the work on ML-1 would not affect the rail operations on the main line.

“There would be no disturbance to the train operations on the main line during construction work at the ML-1 project sites,” he said.

The CEO said that PR transported eight million tonnes of goods to various parts of the country through goods train operations. Talking about the increasing railway income, he said PR will also achieve its Rs109 billion revenue target fixed for the ongoing fiscal year that will end on June 30 of next year.

According to him, PR would upgrade its two more express trains on the pattern of the Greenline train, which has become very famous in terms of services during the journey. He revealed that the PC-1 to restore the Bahawalnagar-Samasatta section has been prepared, whereas the DG Khan section would also be revived subject to the availability of funds.

He said the construction of the railway bridge, which collapsed in a terrorist attack in Balochistan, has been completed, and at present, various load-related tests are being carried out there.

“We, therefore, are set to resume train operation for Balochistan by running the Jafar Express from Oct 11,” he added.

He appreciated a suggestion of receiving passenger complaints through WhatsApp messages and directed the officers concerned to prepare feasibility in this regard. He further told the complainants that the trains scheduled to be run under public-private partnership in the near future would have facilities such as the best cleanliness, standard food, Wi-Fi, and security cameras.

Mr Baloch took notice of the encroachments near the Mehrabpur railway gate and the shortage of drinking water at Sialkot station and advised the officers to take action. He also ordered the restoration of the stoppage of Awam Express at Chaklala station, besides issuing directions to shift the entire trains’ booking/reservation to the Rabta application.

“Since the world is shifting to automation, we have no option but to adopt best practices,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2024