Repairs of flood-ravaged rail tracks to cost Rs140m | The Express Tribune
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan Railways initiated tenders for the restoration of flood-damaged tracks between Khanewal and Shorkot.
- The estimated cost for repairing the 6-km of damaged track is Rs140 million.
- Twelve private companies have submitted technical and financial bids for the restoration work.
- Affected express trains are currently being diverted via Lahore-Sahiwal until repairs are finished.
- Normal train schedules via Faisalabad are expected to resume by November, following a 25-day construction period.
The Pakistan Railways (PR) has launched efforts to restore railway tracks damaged by recent floods, opening tenders for the restoration work which attracted bids from 12 private companies. Significant damage occurred on sections between Khanewal-Shorkot and Shorkot-Shahinaabad, totaling an estimated 6-km of track requiring repair, with an estimated cost of Rs140 million. Due to the closure of the Khanewal-Faisalabad section, trains such as the Rehman Baba Express and Karakoram Express are currently being diverted through Lahore-Sahiwal to maintain passenger service. Furthermore, a section of the Rewaz Bridge embankment was intentionally cut to safeguard Jhang city and surrounding residential areas from floodwaters. Once the tender process is finalized and awarded, the construction work is scheduled to be completed within 25 days. Normal train operations and schedules via Faisalabad are expected to be restored by November.
