Pakistan Railways is working diligently to finish the reconstruction and renovation of the crucial Sibi-Harnai railway track with the help of the National Logistics Cell (NLC).
The aim is to have it operational by June this year. Unfortunately, the railway track was rendered non-functional after bombings damaged 22 steel bridges in the extremely rough and inaccessible region.
Since 2006, the track has been severely damaged, with about 97% of the reconstruction work completed and the rest expected to be finished soon. The Minister for Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafique, has taken a particular interest in these projects and directed officials to expedite their completion.
In March 2016, the NLC was awarded the contract for the rehabilitation and restoration of the Sibi-Harnai railway track and the upgrading of railway stations, as no other construction company was willing to take on the project due to security concerns and the enormity of the task.
An initial survey of the track revealed that 22 steel bridges of varying sizes were destroyed and needed replacement. Additionally, extensive river protection work was required to safeguard the infrastructure. The project’s challenging nature, lack of road access, and necessary resources made it daunting.
Despite harsh weather conditions and a challenging security environment, NLC officers, engineers, and construction workers completed 97% of the rehabilitation work in record time. The fabrication of steel bridges was a significant task, and they were fabricated in Karachi before being transported to the project site and assembled by NLC engineers.
A total of nine railway stations and tracks have been upgraded by NLC engineers, including the reconstruction of Harnai Railway Station and a full renovation of Sibi Railways Station, which is now considered one of the finest railway stations in Balochistan.
