ISLAMABAD, March 26: The federal government will provide Rs7.6 billion to reduce the train travel distance between Quetta and Peshawar by 400 kilometres to boost economic activities and foster inter-provincial harmony.

Official sources said on Monday that the president and the prime minister had given go-ahead to the Ministry of Railways to provide “shortest rail route” from Gwadar port to Peshawar for Afghan traffic and to Havelian for onward connection with China via Kunjrab pass.

They said that the proposed railway project would help achieve the dream of turning Pakistan into an economic hub and centre of trade and business. The plan envisages provision of “Broad Gauge track” from Bostan to Zhob in order to extend the new rail link from Quetta to Zhob–D.I. Khan–Bhakkar, D.I. Khan–Bannu–Kohat–Peshawar. It has been made part of mega development projects for Balochistan and the NWFP.

The proposed up-gradation of the narrow gauge section to broad gauge and provision of direct link between Quetta and Peshawar Cantonment via D.I. Khan–Bunnu–Kohat, would reduce distance between the two provincial capitals by more than 400 kilometres.

The project was initially prepared in July 2006 at a cost of Rs12.2 billion, including Rs.2.2 billion Foreign Exchange Component (FEC). But in January 2007 its cost was reduced to Rs10.2 billion with Rs1.8 billion FEC cost.

However, the federal government then asked the authorities concerned to reduce the cost to “barest minimum of Rs7.6 billion, including Rs440 million FEC cost”. It would be completed in two phases by 2009-10. The Pakistan Railways had been authorised to acquire 584 acres of land.

After completion, the project would help attract and divert international trade and in land passenger and freight traffic in addition to uplifting of socio-economy conditions of the people of the area.

Standard-1 Key locked mechanical signalling system had been proposed which would require trains to pass at 50 km/h through all station yards while passing on main line. It would be through optical fibre cable with multiplex equipment, train control monitoring system and VHF radio system for maintaining communications between the driver and the control office.

As a result of curtailing the number of crossing stations from 13 to 8, maximum length of block section would be increased from 30 km to 62.54 km thereby reducing the line capacity of the section from 18 trains to 8 trains per day. It would be sufficient only to cater to the traffic forecast up to the year 2009, when there would be a requirement to run 3 Up and 3 Dn passenger and 2 Up and 2 Dn freight trains.

Later, Aluzai, Simazai and Nasai stations would have to be opened. It would increase the line capacity of section to 14 trains/day.

The capacity would cater to traffic forecast up to year 2020 for operating 6 Up and 6 Dn passenger, and 4 Up and 4 Dn freight trains. During the year 2020, “we will have to open Khanai and Torghbarge railway stations to cater to the traffic forecast during subsequent years”, the railway authorities informed the Planning Commission.