ISLAMABAD, Oct 31 (APP): Pakistan Railways (PR) has spent over Rs 1 billion on the repair of infrastructure damaged in the recent countrywide floods.
According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, some major portions of railway tracks at different locations situated close to the flood-affected areas were severely damaged, causing an overall spending of Rs1.18 billion on necessary repairs.
As per bifurcated expense details, Rs180 million was spent on the restoration of Thatta Mehla-Chund Railway Station, Abdul Hakeem-Darkana Railway Station, and Qila Soba Singh-Pasrur Railway Station.
Reconstruction of track from KM 66/0 to 80/14 between Thatta Mehla-Chund Railway stations cost Rs987 million.
The department cumulatively spent Rs19.65 million on the repair of Abdul Hakeem bridge and those falling between MSKR-QSS, GDR-DBG, MTG-BOL and HDR-TDM railway stations.
The damage also caused suspension of train service on Shadra-Narowal-Sialkot, Shorkot-Jhang-Shaheenabad, and Khanewal-Shorkot sections.
The operations of four trains — 9-UP, 10-DN, 125-UP, and 126-UP — were suspended on August 27 on Shadra-Narowal-Sialkot section due to a breach of track between Pasrur-Qila Soba section. The train service resumed in full on September 13 after the completion of the repair work.
The train service on Shorkot-Jhang-Shaheenabad section was suspended on September 28 after a 1200-foot breach on the upside of the embankment at Rivaz Railway bridge number 64 over the Chenab River between Thatta Mela and Chund Station. Two trains – 11-Up and 12-DN – run on these sections of railway tracks.