ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Tuesday directed the departments concerned to initiate work for the marketing of the Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) project for private sector’s participation.

Presiding over a meeting here to review the present status of the KCR projects, the minister also directed the Ministry of Railways and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Authority to carry out a monthly progress review of the work assigned to the consultants to ensure that the tasks of the project were completed on time.

The KCR project director briefed the meeting about the progress of the the work. The KCR project was on track as per the approved timelines, he said.

Mr Umer was informed that the PC-Is of some underpasses and overheads along the KCR corridor were at final stages and work on some of them was expected to start next month.

The secretary railways informed the meeting that the consultants who had been working on the feasibility study since January were expected to complete their job by mid-June. After the study, the process of hiring a private party would commence, which would be completed by September 2021, he was informed.

The minister said Karachi was in dire need of an efficient mass transport system. The KCR could play an important role in this regard, he added.

Those who attended the meeting included prime minister’s focal person for Karachi projects MNA Najeeb Haroon, the PPP Authority CEO, KCR project director and other senior officials and representatives of the Frontier Works Organisation.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2021