KARACHI: The Sindh and federal governments have agreed to revive the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), a major step toward addressing the city’s chronic transport woes, ARY News reported on Wednesday. The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, focusing on improving Karachi’s public transport infrastructure.
During the meeting, officials decided to introduce new suburban train services, including routes from Karachi to Taroha and Karachi to Tajikabad. The aim is to provide residents with immediate access to efficient and affordable public transport. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah emphasized that Karachi urgently requires a modern and cost-effective transport system, adding that joint efforts between the federal and provincial governments would help modernize and make the railway network more reliable.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi stated that coordinated initiatives would ensure the development of a modern and dependable railway system. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon noted that after the revival of KCR, BRT buses would operate as feeder services to improve connectivity. The Chief Secretary of Sindh informed the meeting that the Malir Halt underpass project had been delayed due to pending no-objection certificate (NOC) from Pakistan Railways. In response, Hanif Abbasi directed that the NOC be issued without delay.
The meeting also agreed to develop a green corridor along railway tracks, alongside tree plantation initiatives aimed at environmental improvement and removal of encroachments. It was further decided to launch a strict operation against encroachments on railway land, with the Chief Minister instructing district administrations to fully cooperate in clearing illegal occupations. Both federal and provincial authorities agreed to strengthen coordination and improve infrastructure, with a shared commitment to upgrading Karachi’s transport system to better serve the public.
The Karachi Circular Railway, originally built in the 1960s, has been non-functional for years. Its revival is seen as crucial for easing congestion in Pakistan’s largest city, home to over 20 million people. For more on urban transport challenges, see Karachi Circular Railway and Reuters on Karachi transport.
Source: ARY News