Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice Retired Maqbool Baqir, announced that the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project will be constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC). The decision was made during a meeting where the President and Vice President of CRCC met with Chief Minister Maqbool Baqir, affirming their commitment to completing the Karachi Circular Project.
During the meeting, the Vice President of CRCC highlighted that the Transport and Mass Transit Department of the Sindh Government, in collaboration with CRCC, has prepared the feasibility report for the joint venture. As a result, the Chinese authorities will be responsible for the construction of the circular railway in Karachi.
The Caretaker Chief Minister revealed that the Karachi Circular Railway was included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2016. The meeting also discussed that the CPEC meeting in 2023 determined the need for a new feasibility study by the China Railway Authority.
In collaboration with CRCC, the Sindh government prepared a revised feasibility report, indicating that the KCR project would cost $2.002 billion. The updated feasibility study was submitted to the China Railway Authority by the Planning Commission.
The briefing mentioned that the KCR Sir Kevlar route spans approximately 43 km, connecting various areas of Karachi, including industrial zones, commercial districts, and residential areas. According to the latest feasibility study based on Chinese standards, the KCR project is estimated to cost $2.002 billion, featuring 24 stations and a daily passenger capacity of 650,000.
The agreement between the Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh and the Vice President of CRCC also addressed land-related issues along the CRK route, aiming to ensure smooth progress in the implementation of the Karachi Circular Railway project.
Key Points:
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Chinese Involvement: China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) will be responsible for building the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project, according to an agreement with the Sindh Government.
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Feasibility Report: The Transport and Mass Transit Department of the Sindh Government, in collaboration with CRCC, prepared a feasibility report for the KCR project.
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CPEC Inclusion: The Karachi Circular Railway was included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2016.
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New Feasibility Study: The CPEC meeting in 2023 identified the need for a new feasibility study by the China Railway Authority, leading to the collaboration between the Sindh government and CRCC.
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Project Cost: The updated feasibility study indicated that the KCR project would cost $2.002 billion, based on Chinese standards.
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Project Features: The KCR project includes a route of approximately 43 km, 24 stations, and a daily passenger capacity of 650,000.
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Land-Related Issues: The agreement addressed land-related issues along the CRK route to facilitate the smooth implementation of the Karachi Circular Railway project.
