Operation against encroachments along KCR tracks to start tomorrow

KARACHI: The operation against encroachments along tracks of the Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) will start on Wednesday, ARY News reported.

This was announced during a high level meeting presided over by Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani here on Tuesday regarding revival of the KCR. The decision has been taken in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling.

The forum said all the encroachments will be removed within 10 days and encroachments would not be let reestablish through regular monitoring of the tracks. Its implementation report will be submitted in the SC.

Iftikhar Shallwani said that through collective efforts the issue of encroachments would be resolved for benefits of the masses.

Deputy Superintendent Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah briefed the meeting that the KCR was included in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). “It is an important project and we are here to revive it as per policy guidelines.”

Read More: SC orders revival of Karachi Circular Railway in a month

Deputy Commissioner West Zahid Memon relayed that 4.5 km out of 7.5 km had been cleared from all illegal encroachments.

Project Director Karachi Urban Transport Corporation Shaikh Talib Fatah said that the KUTC would take over the KCR from Pakistan Railways.

The commissioner said that between 50/50 feet of KCR both tracks would be cleared from all illegal encroachments.

DIG Operations Railways Azhar Rasheed Khan, DS Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, DG KDA Abdul Qadeer Mangi, MD SMTA Iqitadar Ahmed, Project Director KUTC Shaikh Talib Fatah, Director Anti Encroachment Faisal Bashir Memon, DC South Syed Salahuddin, DC East Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, DC West Zahid Memon, DC Central Kamal Hakeem and officials of Railways, police and other departments also attended the meeting.