Lawmakers Ride Partial KCR Route, Flag Bottlenecks in Project Execution
KARACHI – August 6, 2025: A Senate panel overseeing Pakistan Railways has voiced serious concern over delays in the long-stalled Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project, urging both federal and provincial stakeholders to push past bureaucratic and logistical hurdles to deliver a long-promised urban transit solution for Karachi’s nearly 25 million residents.
During its two-day visit to Karachi, the Senate Standing Committee on Railways met with top officials at the Divisional Superintendent’s office and conducted a brief inspection ride on a segment of the KCR track—from City Station to Wazir Mansion—to gauge progress on the ground.
“Too Many Bottlenecks” in a Project Long Overdue
Committee Chairman Senator Jam Saifullah Khan told reporters after the inspection that the KCR remains bogged down by multiple unresolved issues, including land transfers, pricing disputes, and inter-agency coordination. “This is a project that Karachiites have heard about for decades, and yet its implementation remains sluggish,” he said.
Khan noted that while the Sindh Mass Transit Authority and Pakistan Railways provided briefings on the current status, the committee observed several areas requiring urgent attention. “The Sindh Chief Minister is ready to take full responsibility for making the KCR functional, but the matter also needs direct coordination with the Prime Minister’s office to settle federal-provincial issues,” he added.
Land Transfer, Cost Disputes Stall Momentum
One of the most pressing concerns is the unresolved transfer of railway land to the Sindh government. “Pakistan Railways must offer a fair price for the land if the project is to move forward,” Khan remarked. He also pointed out that while the issue of encroachments has largely been addressed, financial feasibility remains under scrutiny. The projected cost stands at around $2 billion, a figure the committee has urged the Sindh government to re-examine for viability.
CPEC Opportunity Missed, Eyes Now on ADB
Originally pitched as a potential China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, the KCR had attracted interest from Chinese stakeholders. However, that opportunity faded due to security concerns in Balochistan. “Now that conditions have improved, we’re exploring that avenue again—but we’re also in discussions with the Asian Development Bank as an alternative backer,” Khan revealed.
Partial Revival Not Enough for Expanding Metropolis
The committee acknowledged that a portion of the original KCR line had been restored in the past but admitted it fell far short of addressing the city’s transit needs. “Karachi has grown immensely—both in area and population—so simply reviving old tracks won’t cut it anymore. Some sections might even create new traffic jams if brought back into use without proper planning,” Khan cautioned.
Lawmakers Offer Mediation, Oversight
Senator Nasir Mahmood Butt emphasized that the committee’s Karachi visit was intended to bridge gaps and resolve intergovernmental deadlocks. “We’re here to ensure that both the Sindh government and Pakistan Railways are on the same page,” he said, adding that the committee is ready to mediate on land and resource-sharing disputes.
The committee included Senators Asad Qasim, Dost Ali Jessar, Dost Muhammad Khan, and Ashraf Ali Jatoi. Pakistan Railways Secretary Syed Mazhar Ali Shah and CEO Amir Ali Baloch also participated in the briefing sessions.
A City Waiting on Promises
With Karachi’s chronic traffic congestion and near-absent mass transit options, the KCR remains a high-stakes infrastructure project. But after years of delays, its future still hinges on political will, administrative coordination, and practical financing.
Whether this latest push by lawmakers translates into real momentum remains to be seen. For now, Karachi’s residents continue to wait—again—for the train that never quite arrives.
