KHANEWAL, April 12 The most economical electric locomotives and the entire Electric Traction System (ETS) between Khanewal and Lahore section of the Pakistan Railways is being eliminated by a 'powerful mafia'.
After disposing of electric engines in scrap, this mafia is now after the costly overhead cable called OETC (overhead electric traction cable). Thousands of meters of costly copper OETC has already been stolen from different parts of the 250km long Khanewal-Lahore section and who the thieves are no body knows.
This imported copper wire's current market value is Rs900 per kg. The total cost of this OETC set up, including poles, on the entire section is Rs30billion.
The Pakistan Railways had introduced the most economical ETS in 1971, purchased 29 electric locomotives and operated these on the Khanewal-Lahore section with a total cost of Rs142 million. This system remained functional till 2007.
Sources said former state minister for railways Ishaq Khakwani approved purchase of 25 electric and 75 diesel locomotives from China five years ago, but the hidden hands only allowed the railways to buy 75 diesel engines, cancelling the deal for 25 electric locomotives.
According to official sources, a diesel engine has about 35,000 parts and needs repairs frequently whereas an electric engine has about 2,000 parts and needs repairs rarely.
“Actually, the people who have already put the railways' future on stake don't want the electric system to work because they know this system will close the doors of their corruption,” says an official who does not want to be named. He says diesel engines are far heavier than electric engines and this is why railways have to repair the tracks frequently. Another positive thing about the electric locomotives, according to him, is that they are environment friendly.
The official said the mafia tried to get the entire electric traction system wound up two years ago and told Khanewal and Lahore railway authorities to ground the electric locomotives. As the officials and staff attached with the ETS started protests against the decision, those behind the plan halted action on their plan and allowed operation of electric engines for a few more months. He said the authorities again tried to eliminate the ETS last year, but the Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the issue and told the railway authorities to explain as to why they wanted to abandon the electric system.
“The railway authorities submitted to the court in writing that they will not eliminate this economical system, but later grounded all 29 electric locomotives in Lahore,” said the official source.
He said later the mafia succeeded in getting all 29 electric engines sold in the scrap market. He said all locomotives were repairable, but those at the helm of affairs disposed these off in haste. He said a Lahore-based railway official offered the management to give him just Rs50,000 for the maintenance of four electric locomotives grounded at the Mughalpura workshop, but the management rejected his offer.
The official said the same mafia was stealing parts of the ETS, especially precious overhead electric traction cable. He said it was not possible for a common thief to take away the cable carrying 25,000 volts. “I am sure the mafia is doing this with the help of some railway technicians,” he said.
He said the railways general manager (operations) recently told the officials to wind up the ETS completely on the Khanewal-Lahore section.
Talking to Dawn, former minister Ishaq Khakwani confirmed that there was a lobby in the railways which promoted diesel engines and their workshops. He said since the electric engines' operation was far cheaper, he prepared a PC-1 for their purchase and setting up of workshops but was not aware why was it put in cold storage.
“I am convinced that a powerful lobby in the PR wants its complete 'dieselisation'. I tried to promote electric locomotives but it (the lobby) went for diesel engines each time,” Khakwani said.
General Manager (Operations) Ashfaq Ahmad Khattak said he had, with the approval of the government, directed the officials to wind up the ETS after frequent reports of theft of various items. He said that railways police had arrested some people for the theft of ETS parts and they were being investigated, but he could not give their names.
He said all 29 electric locomotives were sold in scrap because they had lived their life. He said the ETS was not feasible in this era of energy crisis. He, however, said the railways was planning to set up its own powerhouses to bring the ETS back in use.