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KARACHI: Japanese consultants' team will arrive
in Karachi in first week of November 2008 for special assistance
for project formulation (Saprof) study of revival of Karachi
Circular Railway (KCR).
Well-placed sources in the Sindh government told PPI on Thursday
that eight-member consultant team of Japan would reach Karachi
in first week of November 2008. It will stay in Karachi for
about two months and work as special assistant for project
formulation regarding the KCR. The team will include urban
transport specialist, land development specialist, financial
expert, management expert and engineering expert. Japanese
government will bear all expenditure of this team's stay in
Karachi. Under the Saprof study, the team will review already
compiled recommendations of Governments of Japan and Pakistan
and UK-based international railway consultant 'Scot Wilson'
for the revival of the KCR. The team will suggest technology
and alternative technology for the KCR revival. It would also
suggest use special machinery for the project, which could
best work in warm and dusty environment of Karachi.
It may be noted that many projects in Pakistan had failed
after completion when the machinery imported for them did
not work properly in the dusty and hot environment of Pakistan,
because it was designed only for European environment. The
consultant team is bound to present its draft and final report
to the Government of Japan within four months. After presentation
of this report, another team from Japan will visit Karachi
for 'Project Appraisal Mission'. This team will stay here
for 15 days and present the final report to the Japanese government.
After the presentation of this report, the governments of
Japan and Pakistan would sign load agreement for KCR revival
in June 2009. In July 2009, practical work on the phase-1
of KCR would take place.
A special consultant consortium having international reputation
would be appointed for Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Telecommunication
and other departments of KCR. The consultants would be hired
from the US, Japan, Germany, Malaysia and Singapore.
The Phase-1 of KCR revival would be completed within 12 months
and trains would be operated from Karachi City Station to
Liaquatabad Station. The present KCR station located behind
the Al-Azam Square, Liaquatabad now would be reconstructed
near the Karimabad flyover. Another station would be constructed
behind the PIDC near Hotel Pearl Continental, which would
be called PIDC Station. The KCR trains will carry passengers
from PIDC station instead of Cantt or City Stations. These
trains would facilitate passengers of PIDC, City Station,
Stock Market, Denso Hall, Tower and many other areas. Passenger
would reach from Liaquatabad to Tower within 20 minutes. The
commuters could reach the Sindh Secretariat from the nearby
KCR Station within 10 minutes by walking on foot. The sources
said the KCR trains would be completely air-conditioned. Although,
Pakistan is bound to import minimum 30 percent bogies and
other equipment of KCR from Japan; however, all bogies and
equipment may be made in Japan, as the Japanese government
is financing the project. Presently, Japan is the leading
country across the world regarding railway structuring. KCR
trains would be designed as per 'Electric Multiple Unit'.
No conventional railway locomotive would draw the KCR bogies
and special locomotives would be integral part of KCR trains.
KCR trains would comprise eight air-conditioned bogies which
would carry 1690 commuters. However, four more bogies could
be added with additional capacity of 820 commuters, if needed.
A total of 256 such bogies would be imported and 32 EMU train
sets would operate on the KCR track.
Although trains in Japan are running at 300 kilometers per
hour; however, the KCR train having capability of 100km speed
per hour would run at 60km per hour due to specific traffic
conditions of Karachi traffic. In Delhi, India, the underground
and on-ground metro trains are also running at 60-100km per
hour. Conventional trains have to apply breaks for stopping
some two to three kilometers before the destination, but the
KCR trains would be equipped with modern technology which
could stop the train immediately. —Agency |
