ISLAMABAD: On Thursday, the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project was approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) at Rs273.07 billion. During the meeting, three projects were approved worth Rs280 billion.
Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Jahanzeb Khan presided over the meeting and has forwarded the request to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for the approval of the KCR under Public-Private partnership (PPP).
Earlier, the Railway Division and Planning Commission was asked by the Public-Private Partnership Authority (P3A) board to submit the finalised cost estimates to CDWP and get the Ecnec approval. The project will take three years to complete with a 43-km dual track, providing an eco-friendly and safe mode of transport. It is estimated that nearly 457,000 citizens from 30 stations will benefit from the project.
The KCR will begin its journey from Karachi city station and cover the areas including Drigh Road, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, SITE area, and Port.