ISLAMABAD, (MILLAT/APP): Pakistan Railway is planning to
0renovate and rehabilitate 31 more railway stations across the
country for providing better facilities to the passengers.
Reconstruction of Bahawalpur, Okara, Sahiwal, Raiwind,
Narowal, Nankana Sahib and Hassanabdal stations were in progress
while 31 stations were under finalization for renovation and
provision of basic passenger amenities, an official in the Ministry
of Railways told APP.
The official said that Pakistan Railways had spent Rs 451.256
million on account of repairs, renovation and reconstruction of
railway stations during the tenure of the present government.
He said the present government initiated the project of
up-gradation of rehabilitation of signaling system from Lodhran to
Kotri section by getting PC-I approved, amounting to Rs 38,262.991
million.
The official said the work however, was deferred as the same
was included in China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC).
In addition, he said the two projects of railway signaling
from Lodhran to Shahdara and from Mirpur Mathelo to Shahadpur were
inherited by the present government, termed as `sick projects’.
He said the estimated cost of the re-signaling project is Rs
17.464 billion covering 31 stations over a section of 433 kilo
meters from Lodhran to Shahdara Bagh including installation of ATP
system.
The cost of signal rehabilitation project from Mirpur Mathelo
to Shahdapur (315 KMs) is Rs 7.855 billion for 23 stations, he
added.
He said the present status was that 30 stations out of 54
stations have been completed and opened for traffic while work was
in progress on remaining 24 stations.