Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi agreed to jointly finalise the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) revival plan, stressing collaboration to speed up long-delayed progress on the project.
The KCR, under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), will stretch 43.2 kilometres with 25.51 kilometres elevated and 17.7 kilometres at ground level. It will feature 24 stations, including 13 elevated and 11 on-ground, providing vital connectivity.
Officials said the project is designed to serve nearly 650,000 passengers daily, offering both east–west and north–south routes across Karachi. However, the updated feasibility study is still awaiting final approval from Chinese authorities.
During the meeting, Shah expressed frustration over repeated delays and urged exploring a broader collaborative model involving not only Sindh and Pakistan Railways but also private investors and donor agencies.
The briefing highlighted that over 11 acres of railway land had been cleared of encroachments at Drigh Road, Karachi University, Urdu College, and Gillani stations, though serious encroachments persist at Liaquatabad and Urdu College.
The meeting also discussed outsourcing station management and launching new train services as part of the revival plan. Abbasi fully endorsed Shah’s proposals and assured complete federal government support to push the project forward.