PRIME Minister Imran Khan on Monday performed the groundbreaking of much awaited Rs 20.7 billion Karachi Circular Railway project to provide modern transportation services to the people of the provincial capital.
The credit of the revival of this important project really goes to no other than the Supreme Court of Pakistan and one expects that the timeline of two-year given to its completion will also be met.
Karachi is amongst the biggest cities in the world with a steadily growing population. People from other districts also turn to this city for livelihood opportunities.
This generates the need for an efficient mass transportation system. As regards the KCR is concerned, it began operations in 1964 under the administration of Pakistan Railways. Its instant success made Pakistan Railways a significant profit in its first year of operation.
However, then during the 1990s, cost of operations increased while revenues dropped due to a deteriorating commuter service and increasing culture of fare dodging.
Private transporters during this period also contracted KCR staff and by 1994 the KCR was incurring major losses due to mismanagement.
Unable to withstand the pressure of a growing transport mafia, Pakistan Railways abandoned the KCR in 1999.
This is a lesson that the authorities concerned should learn in order to ensure efficient operationalization of the KCR in future.
As the project is not only being revived but further expanded and modernized, it will undoubtedly attract a good number of commuters and also contribute significantly to the revenue of Pakistan Railways provided matters are dealt with sheer professionalism.
And as very rightly stated by Prime Minister Imran Khan, both the federal and provincial governments will have to work in tandem whilst setting aside their differences not only to ensure timely completion of the KCR but also implement the city’s transformation program launched last year to address its chronic issues including those of water, sanitation and sewerage.
Such is the contribution of Karachi to the country’s economy that it should be made a model in terms of development.
