Pakistan Railways (PR) will be given PKR14 billion to rehabilitate the destroyed infrastructure in the Baluchistan province by the federal government. According to an official familiar with the development, the money will be provided only for the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure of PR in the province. He said that PR has suspended its operations in the three provinces of the country after the recent flash floods, adding that in the second week of August Nullah Dek washed away the Narowal-Sialkot section.

He continued, “the destroyed track in Sialkot-Narowal was reconstructed within a couple of days. PR has also relinked the three provinces after they had been disconnected during the recent floods.”The official informed that PR is planning to revive all the closed stations in the Baluchistan province, adding that it will generate revenue for the department. He said that Railway Minister has personally given directions to revive the stations of the Baluchistan province.

He said, “PR is planning to start rehabilitation work on the 33-kilometres track through sleeper renewal between Quetta-Bostan and Quetta-Chaman sections.” The official said that the railway network in Balochistan province mainly consists of Quetta Division having Dera Allah Yar-Sibi-Quetta, Quetta-Chaman, Sibi-Khost, Spezend-Dalbandin-Taftan, and Bostan-Zhob sections. “These sections have remained closed for the last 15 years,” he said.

The official informed that there are two passenger trains Jaffer Express (40-Up, 39-Down) and Chaman Passenger (349-Up, 350-Down) operating in Balochistan while no stations were closed during the last 15 years in Quetta division. He continued that the overall length of the railway track in Balochistan is 1,470.36 kilometres including the closed Bostan-Zhob section. “Most of the track is more than 100 years old and on certain stretches, engineering speed restrictions have been imposed due to deferred maintenance. Still maintenance work is underway given the limited resources,” he said.

To improve railway services in Balochistan, he said, the department was taking several steps like the approval of PC-I for the track’s rehabilitation and the rehabilitation of another 100-km track between Ahmedwal-Dalbadin on Quetta-Taftan section. The official said that rehabilitation work on the track between Nokundi-KohiTaftan on Quetta-Taftan section and on 160.024 kilometres of track between Bostan-Chaman on Quetta-Chaman section will also be carried out.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk