Plans Incorporated For Linking Karachi Airport with City through Karachi Circular Railway

Plans are afoot for linking Karachi airport with the city through Karachi Circular Railway. The plan has been incorporated in the Karachi Circular Railway project, which is now being revived under Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC).

Expression of interest (EoI) has been invited for environmental impact assessment study for revival of Karachi Circular Railway project. The terms of reference for special assistance for the project formulation (SAPROF) study has been signed, study of which would be completed by end of the year.

Revalidation of Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) report has been completed and executive summary of the final report has been furnished by the consultants - Scott Wilson Railways of UK and Umar Munshi Associates, Karachi. In a meeting held on May 29 at the Prime Minister Secretariat, it was decided that PC-I of the project to be furnished immediately and project would be sponsored by the Ministry of Railways.

The Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) has on its board of directors senior officials of Pakistan Railways, government Of Sindh and City District Government Karachi (CDGK). It may be mentioned here that the KCR was opened for traffic in two phases in 1964 and 1970.The KCR originates from Drigh Road station on main line and, after crossing Sharea Faisal short of Karachi airport, it passes through populated areas of Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Site, Baldia, Lyari, Kharadar, Mithadar and finally touches Karachi City Station.

It has 16 stations, 22 level crossings in its 29.32-kilometre route length.The KCR remained functional for almost 15 years, but gradually, it lost charm due to lack of investment in infrastructure and rolling stock, resulting in increase in travel time, non-punctuality etc. This led to gradual reduction in number of trains and eventually was closed for traffic in January 2000.

At a meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister on December 6, 2004, it was, inter alia, decided that Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) be revived as modern commuter system for the citizens of Karachi and Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) be set up for the implementation and operation of the KCR with Pakistan Railways, government of Sindh and City District Government Karachi (CDGK) as stake holders.

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry had commissioned a study on revival of Karachi Circular Railway as modern commuter system under the aegis of Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro). The Jetro report has recommended dualisation of KCR loop (29.32 kilometere) and provision of two dedicated tracks along mainline.

The report also recommended that the major cities around the world have dedicated railways for airport that connect their airports with the city centres. Therefore, the KCR should also be linked to the airport so as to provide facility to commuters for travelling to and from various city centres to the airport.

The proposed rail link with terminal station at airport with route length of six kilometres, including 1,870-metre elevated, 830-metre underground and 3,260-metre surface track. The railway station will be provided in the vicinity of present car parking area.

The link to Karachi airport will facilitate the passengers to commute from various centres of the city in shortest possible time, say a passenger will be able to reach from and to Karachi Airport from Liaquatabad in about 25 minutes.

Three trains per hour will be operating to Karachi Airport and the track will have the capacity to increase the number of trains, depending on the increase of passengers, the cost of rail link, including infrastructure, rolling stock etc will be 156 million dollars.