The Civil Engineering Department of Pakistan Railways (PR) has furnished a summary with the railways ministry seeking billions of rupees for the restoration of the infrastructure damaged by the recent devastating floods, reports WealthPK.

The department requires about Rs53 billion to restore the signal system, Rs60 billion to fix the partial damage suffered by 33 railway stations in Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Sukkur, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Quetta divisions and over Rs6 billion to make the communication tower and other equipment functional again, a document available with WealthPK stated.

According to the document, the signal system suffered massive destruction in Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Sukkur divisions due to monsoon-triggered floods in most parts of the country.

For the repair of the drainage system at 41 railway yards and their restoration, an estimated Rs2.23 billion is required. The 3,187 kilometres track of Main Line-I, II and III was completely destroyed by the floods.

Likewise, 1,446 railway bridges and culverts were damaged out of which two bridges were completely destroyed in the Quetta division, while one bridge each in Sukkur and Karachi divisions was washed away.

According to the document, a total of 1,181 railway bridges were damaged and an estimated sum of Rs433 billion was required for their restoration and construction of 259 new ones.

Owing to the floods, 109.4 kilometres track in Chaman, Mirpurkhas, Khokhrapar, Hyderabad, Quetta and Sialkot sections were completely destroyed, while a stretch of 68.123 kilometres was partially damaged in this section. For the repair of this damaged section and the construction of 79 new bridges, an amount of Rs17 billion will be required, said the document.

The technical and non-technical staff of Pakistan Railways with the help of local administration and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) is working day and night to restore the train service across the country.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk