Sibbi-Harnai railway track to be completed by January 2023

Author: APP

Pakistan Railways is likely to complete reconstruction and rehabilitation work on the strategic Sibbi-Harnai railway track by end of January 2023 with the help of National Logistics Cell (NLC). “The railway track was made dysfunctional after a series of bomb blasts damaged as many as 22 steel bridges in the highly rugged and inaccessible area,” sources in the Ministry of Railways told APP on Sunday. They said the track was badly damaged in 2006 and so far about 95 percent of the reconstruction work of the project was completed and remaining would be completed soon. The sources said that Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique had also taken keen interest regarding the projects and directed concerned official to complete the project at the earliest. They said 10 railways stations were rendered dysfunctional for over lack of proper maintenance over a long period of time. In March 2016, they said that a contract of rehabilitation and restoration of Sibbi-Harnai railway track along with up-gradation of railway stations was awarded to the NLC as no other construction firm agreed to undertake the project due to prevalent security situation and enormity of the task. During initial survey of the track, they said that it was found that 22 steel bridges of different sizes were completely destroyed and required replacement. They said in addition, a massive river protection work was to be undertaken to save the infrastructure. The quantum of work, non-availability of road access and requisite resources made the project ‘a formidable challenge.’ The sources said undertaking the project with the sincerity of purpose and utmost sense of duty, NLC officers, engineers and construction workers faced harsh weather conditions and a hostile security environment, and subsequently completed 95% of the rehabilitation works in record time. The major task was the fabrication of steel bridges. The steel bridges were fabricated in Karachi and were transported all the way to the project site after painstakingly assembled by NLC engineers in a befitting manner, they added.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Pakistan

France announces aid to back global fight against polio in Pakistan

French Ambassador to Pakistan, Nicolas Galey, has reaffirmed France's support for Pakistan's polio eradication efforts,…

3 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Punjab CM briefs NDU delegation on Punjab development initiatives

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif Thursday met the participants in the 26th National Security…

3 hours ago
  • Pakistan

ATC approves Imran’s physical remand in vandalism case

An anti-terrorism court has approved a five-day physical remand of former PTI chairman Imran Khan,…

3 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Qureshi, others indicted in May 9 case

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday indicted several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Shah Mehmood…

3 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Pakistan voices regret after US veto on Gaza ceasefire bid

Pakistan expressed its "deep regret" over the United States' veto of a UN Security Council…

3 hours ago
  • Pakistan

PM calls for third party validation of govt procurements

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the relevant authorities to ensure third party validation…

3 hours ago