PESHAWAR: The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) signed the Circular Railway Project worth $1.6 billion WITH China Communication and Construction Company Ltd here at the chief minister’s secretariat.
The project links Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda with future expansion to Swabi and a speedy service from Peshawar to Islamabad. The chinese company in the deal is a public sector major construction company with expertise in rail communication and infrastructure development. It has undertaken and completed major projects in China and other countries as well.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the government of KP and the Chinese company regarding the inter districts circular railway project in the province. Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Transport, Malik Shah Muhammad Wazir and China Communications and Constructions Corporation, Ltd Country Head Waing Xiaoping formally signed the MoU.
Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Law, Arif Yousaf, Economic Zones Development and Management Company KP Chairman Ghulam Dastagir Akhtar, Mohsin Syed and other officers concerned were also present. According to the memorandum, the Chinese company would first conduct a feasibility study, inclusive of concept design and cost estimation. It would also prepare a technical and financial proposal and present to the provincial government in respect of the development of the project. It would provide a technical specification to the government for the soil investigation and survey as well.
The provincial government would be responsible for obtaining all approvals permits, land rights or other necessary permissions to enable the company to complete the feasibility work. The government would also facilitate the company to fulfill its obligations and responsibilities by providing available relevant local technical information and other necessary documents available in respect of the project.
Under the MoU, each party would be responsible for its own parts and expenses for the performance of its responsibilities and obligations. The speed of the train under the project would be 220 km/hour. It is a part of contributing to the overall transportation system and planned urbanisation.
It is being called as the major step of the provincial government towards mass transit integrating the major cities of the province. The project would have the space to be further expanded to areas and commercial hubs and industrial zones throughout the province. It is would also resolve the transportation problems and generate jobs leading to the overall economic revival of the province.