ISLAMABAD, Jun 7 (APP):Pakistan Railways (PR) is accelerating work on the $1.639 billion upgrade of the Landhi–Rohri section of ML-1, with groundbreaking targeted for October 2026. Official documents available with Wealth Pakistan show that the 450-kilometre corridor is set for extensive modernization, including the overhaul of 32 railway stations and 551 bridges and culverts. The project will also introduce modern signaling systems, including Auto Block Signaling and Centralized Block Interlocking …
$1.64bn Landhi–Rohri ML-1 upgrade picks up steam
ISLAMABAD, Jun 7 (APP):Pakistan Railways (PR) is accelerating work on the $1.639 billion upgrade of the Landhi–Rohri section of ML-1, with groundbreaking targeted for October 2026.
Official documents available with Wealth Pakistan show that the 450-kilometre corridor is set for extensive modernization, including the overhaul of 32 railway stations and 551 bridges and culverts. The project will also introduce modern signaling systems, including Auto Block Signaling and Centralized Block Interlocking (CBI), aimed at improving operational efficiency and safety.
Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) surveys and plans are expected to be completed by August 2026. The design review by the PRF consultant and approval of environmental and social (E&S) plans by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are targeted for December 2026.
The document further reveals that contractor hiring, retro financing, and groundbreaking activities are all scheduled for October 2026, signaling the government’s intent to fast-track one of the most critical railway infrastructure projects in the country.
The project also covers the improvement and grade separation of level crossings between Landhi and Hyderabad, along with climate risk assessment studies, environmental and social safeguard measures, and land acquisition and resettlement plans.
The modernization of the Landhi–Rohri section will go a long way toward significantly enhancing freight and passenger rail capacity between Karachi and the rest of the country, reducing travel time, improving logistics efficiency, and strengthening Pakistan’s transport connectivity and economic growth prospects.
