LAHORE, Sept 1: Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said a new train will start operating between Lahore and Sialkot from Sept 6 and the feasibility report for bullet train between Lahore and Rawalpindi will be completed by Sept 30.

At a press conference at the Pakistan Railways Headquarters here on Friday, the minister said the railways would soon introduce the ticket home delivery service in selected cities against an extra payment of Rs25 (for each ticket).

Water filtration plants would be installed at eight railway stations where passengers would be allowed to get their bottles filled for Rs2 to Rs3.

He said the mass transit rail service was proposed to be started in eight cities, including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. A loan of 950 million Japanese Yen was available for the project to be executed after the constitution of authorities for the purpose.

Answering a question about the suspension of the Thar Express, he said it had been suspended by India and it had given four weeks’ time for an answer about its restoration. He said Pakistan was in favour of restoration of service because it had spent billions of rupees on laying the railway track for it.

He said the PR would recruit 500 engine drivers and hand over the platforms of eight railway stations to the private sector. The staff concerned would be entrusted with the responsibility of checking the tickets. A summary for pay-scale package for the station masters who were left in compulsory operation staff would soon be submitted to the prime minister for approval.

Answering a question about the washing away of Pathani Bridge, he said the inquiry report was still awaited. He would take action on it the day it was submitted to him. He had also ordered survey of 14,000 railways bridges in the country for necessary repairs.

He said the 4,000 unmanned level crossings in the country would be handed over to the districts. He would take up the issue with the federal cabinet for solving the problem of installation of gates with the cooperation of provincial and district governments.

Responding to a question about the strike, Sheikh Rashid said it had failed because people had not heeded the opposition call in any part of the country. He said the opposition always gave its calls for strike on Fridays because a sizeable number of markets observed weekly holiday on the day. The opposition should better give a call for strike on any Tuesday or Wednesday for testing its popularity.

He said the government had nothing to fear from the opposition because the latter did not enjoy the support of the people. The government would defend itself on the steel mills, sugar and stock market issues, he added.

Pakistan Railways chairman Shakil Durrani and general manager Saleemur Rehman Akhound were also present.