SUKKUR, May 31: The Ministry of Railways and Communications has started an extensive survey of railway tracks, besides link-tracks, on Karachi-Peshawar section for the purpose of replacing of damaged ones, it was officially learnt here on Friday.

All the divisional superintendents are being directed to undertake the survey in their respective divisions and pinpoint the sections where tracks were in dilapidated condition or damaged enough to affect the train speed.

The DS, Yaqoob Zardari, while briefing newsmen here on Thursday, said that the survey, starting from June 1, would be completed in six months.

He pointed out that the normal life of a railway track used to be 40 years while the original tracks in the entire country had already become 60-year-old.

The survey, he added, was being conducted for the replacement of unusable tracks within the next three years.

Mr Zardari told reporters that Lt Gen Saeeduz Zafar, the Railways Chairman, had informed the officials that Railways would be functioning as corporation on experimental basis for six months from July 1. If successful, it would be declared corporation, he quoted Mr Zafar as saying.

Railway had drastically curtailed its expenditures, Mr Zardari said, adding that it was no more in deficit. He said the Railways had brought down its overdraft from Rs7 billion to Rs4 billion. It had adjusted the overdraft by Rs3.2 billion earned this year, he added.

The DS said that in its efforts to improve the communication system, the Railways was in touch with some multinational companies for the installation of a sophisticated system.

Besides, he said, 175 new passenger carriages and 1,600 freight wagons were being imported from China on technology-transfer basis.

The DS Railways informed reporters that the shuttle train service between Larkana, Shahdadkot and Jacobabad in Sukkur division had to be closed due to the worst condition of the track.

He said that the 100km-track between Larkana and Dadu and 134km-track between Jacobabad and Shahdadkot was in dilapidated condition and needed an immediate replacement.