LAHORE: In a bid to ensure safety of passengers first, the Pakistan Railways (PR) has decided to impose engineering restrictions related to speed limits on various sections of the existing main line-1 (ML-1), especially the Kotri-Khanpur-Kotri section— the most risky portion witnessing train accidents, including the recent one met by Hazara Express near Nawabshah, claiming 30 lives and injuring scores of passengers.
According to official sources, the decision was taken in a high-level meeting presided over by the PR chief executive officer (CEO).
With imposition of the engineering restrictions, the travel time of all passenger trains running on the ML-1 will increase, forcing the authorities to revise trains’ time table.
“During the meeting, the PR CEO was of the view that there should be no compromise on safety of the passengers as well as crew members while carrying out the train operations. On this, some of the officers responded that if the PR wants safety first, then it will have to reduce speed limit on the track, especially the Kotri-Khanpur-Kotri portion, by imposing engineering restrictions at certain dangerous stretches of the main line,” an official privy to the development told Dawn here on Saturday.
Article continues after ad
The officers, according to the source, further briefed the CEO that if the engineering restrictions are imposed, which may increasing the travel time, the PR management will have to revise the existing timetable of the trains. “Yes you can revise the trains’ schedule keeping in view the engineering restrictions. Though we also want a trouble-free trains operation, our first priority is the safety of passengers,” the source quoted the CEO Shahid Aziz as having said in the meeting.
The CEO believed that if the PR’s core departments — mechanical, electrical and civil — join hands with each other, there would be no problem left related to the smooth train operations and passengers’ safety.
He ordered the officers to ensure a thorough inspection of each train (coaches, brake & luggage vans, dining car, locomotive etc) before departure for any destination from the origin.Mr Aziz also sought frequent inspection of the railway tracks, signaling system and security of the rail infrastructure.
Khanpur-Kotri-Khanpur portion of the existing ML-I is in a dilapidated condition since long, causing frequent accidents, especially over the last five years or so.
In 2021, the PR had sent a Rs30 billion PC-1 to the then PTI-led federal government for complete rehabilitation of the 470km-long stretch of the track between Khanpur and Kotri in a bid to avert loss of lives and property due to frequent accidents. However, the then government continued delaying its approval, considering it as not necessary in view of the the proposed ML-1 project to be launched under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Later, the matter was also taken up with the PDM-led federal government, but to no avail.
Under the project, the PR aims to replace the track on the critical stretches on Khanpur-Kotri portion, besides maintenance of the less-dangerous portions.
The PC-1 had been submitted as the PR authorities felt that since the ML-1 project’s approval has been facing delays, they should start rehabilitation work at critical portions of the track (mainly in Sukkur and Karachi divisions) on its own in funding collaboration with the federal government to avert accidents.
Former federal minister for railways and aviation Khwaja Saad Rafique, in his last address to the outgoing parliament, had demanded the federal government to at least provide Rs10 billion to improve condition of the track.
Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2023