KARACHI, March 21: The operation of the Karachi Circular Railway is likely to be delayed as the dispute between the Pakistan Railways and the Sindh government over the handing over of the KCR infrastructure could not be settled.

Well-placed sources said that during October last year, the Pakistan Railways planned the auction of shops in the ‘railway markets’ at Wazir Mansion railway station, KPT station, Liaquatabad station near Al-Azam Square, NIPA Chowrangi tracks near Sindbad, Level Crossing No 7 on Sehba Akhtar Road, and Level Crossing No 8 near old furniture market in Gharibabad. An advertisement in this respect was also published in a section of press on October 6, which also stated that these shops would be leased out for 10 years and the period of lease would be extendible for further five years.

Transport officials maintained that the tracks without land would not serve the purpose and it would be difficult to improve the existing infrastructure.

The Sindh government had decided in principle to protect the land of the Karachi Circular Railway at all costs and the attempt of Pakistan Railways to lease out the shops and markets along the KCR land would be resisted strongly, the sources said.

Sindh Minister for Transport Dewan Mohammad Yousuf Farooqui, while presiding over the first meeting of the Steering Committee of the Revitalization of the KCR on Thursday, told the meeting that he would approach the Pakistan Railways and hold dialogue with them to get back the infrastructure of the KCR from them, sources who attended the meeting said.

He observed that in view of the immense significance of the KCR, concerted efforts should be made for its early completion.

It was decided that a presentation about this project will be made to the Federal Minister for Railways soon. It was decided that the meetings of the Steering Committee would be held at regular intervals. The next meeting of the Steering Committee of the KCR is scheduled for March 27.

Thursday’s meeting was attended by Nazim City District Government, Naimatullah Khan, Sindh Secretary Transport, Raja Mohammad Abbas, District Coordination Officer, Karachi, Shafiq-ur-Rehman Paracha, Executive District Officer (Transport) Karachi, Dr Tahir Soomro, and Convener of Provincial Committee on Investment, Aseem Hashmi, besides the representatives of Corps 5, Pakistan Railways and other senior officials of the government.

Earlier in December last, at a meeting at Governor’s house on Monday, the Governor Mohammedmian Soomro stressed upon need for revival and maintenance of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) with cooperation of private sector and instructed the city government to protect the lands along the KCR tracks, maintain a continuous supervision on it and make area SHOs responsible for it.

The sources said the government had written a letter to the Pakistan Railways regarding its plans to lease out the shops and markets along the KCR tracks. The railways had stated that the step was taken to increase the revenue of the railways and it was its right to utilize its land.

The Sindh government contested the railways claim saying that land was owned by the provincial government and the railways could not be allowed to lease out the shops and markets. If these were set up along the KCR tracks, it would severely hamper the revitalization of the operation of the KCR, which would hopefully be revived in near future, the sources in the government asserted.

A senior official in the transport department said the provincial transport department was working on the revival of the KCR operation, which had been closed since December 1999. He said private consultants would be appointed soon to carry out the short-term feasibility which would also include repair of the tracks. Besides bringing improvement in the existing infrastructure of the circular railway, the stations would also be upgraded and linked with the bus routes to provide the citizens facility to reach their nearer stations with comfort, he added.

“The Pakistan Railways wants to sell the valuable land along the tracks of the KCR and spend the money of the province to upgrade its efficiency in the other parts of the country which is injustice with the people of Karachi and as well as with the province,” the official asserted.

The officials in Pakistan Railways said the revival of the KCR was a mission for the Sindh government and the Pakistan railways was ready to provide technical assistance to the provincial government for the revival of KCR operation.

However, the officials while disputing the claim of the Sindh government said the major portion of the land along the tracks of the KCR was owned by the railways.

The officials in the Sindh government refuted the claim of Pakistan Railways and said the provincial government had given the land to the Pakistan railways for specific purpose to operate the circular railway and to build its infrastructure. The railways had started selling it off for the residential and commercial purposes which could not be allowed.

The sources said the efforts to restore the operation of the KCR were being made but because of “the lack of the interest the federal government and the railways authority, the issue has been lingering”, an official said.