Reaching your workplace and home because of traffic jams and spending time waiting for overcrowd obsolete buses is nothing new for the Karachiites. But the sad thing is that the newly-relaunched KCR (Karachi Circular Railway) too won’t guarantee better service.
It was proved Friday as 24NewsHD TV channel reported that the first train after the inauguration of the service reached the City Station from Pipri 30 minutes late.
Karachi houses over 20 million people who have not got modern transport even to-date. An attempt has been made to revive the KCR – which was shut down in 1990s – on the court directives but the fact is neither the route is complete nor the stations.
The railway authorities inaugurated the project on Thursday by declaring the local train as KCR. However, the practical result is that the first train was late even on the half route.
Citizens say the facilities provided in the train on the main track are very good but only on-time service would benefit them by making their travel easier.
They also are critical of the fact that the number of trains reserved for the purpose can’t serve the huge population. The reason for the reaction is that only four trains in two directions will carry the passengers between Pipri and City Station (late to Orangi Town) with a gap of three hours.
The track opened for service is one of the busiest in the city but the KCR will prove a success when the people are served on other stations as well.
On the other hand, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed had yesterday announced that the train service from the City Station via Wazir Mansion to Orangi Town would start in 15 days but the track is in a depleted condition with rust all over it.
And the situation is worst in the SITE area – the country’s largest industrial area where hundreds of thousands of people work, urgently requiring better public service.
And there is another issue. In Gulbai, heavy traffic passes over the railway track but there is no mechanism to control that. How the service would be extended to Orangi Town in 15 days in this scenario remains a mystery.
On Thursday, Rasheed had inaugurated the much-awaited KCR but for an incomplete track while also reducing the number of trains from eight to four. He, however, announced the decision to reduce the fare from Rs50 to Rs30. The labourers and other people could get the monthly pass for Rs750, the minister added.