The issue will be discussed at a meeting of National Assembly's Standing Committee scheduled to meet on Friday. The five-day suspension of railways services not only caused great inconvenience to the general public but also caused over Rs 1 billion loss to the national economy, disturbing transportation of local trade items, exports, imports, Afghan Transit Trade and financial losses to railways itself amounting to millions of rupees.
Besides, the Run-Pathani Bridge collapse incident the railways authorities will be briefing the committee on bridging system in Railways, age of bridges, life of bridges, future plans to prevent accidents, redesigning of bridges and number of accidents during the last decade.
The sources said incumbent general manager Railways had failed to take precautionary measures despite knowing that the bridge was in precarious condition.
A source in the ministry told Business Recorder that two officials were actually made scapegoats by the ministry high ups to avoid the wrath of the general public. While the GM Railways was well aware of the Run-Pathani Bridge before taking over his current charge but turned a blind eye towards the maintenance of bridge resulting in economic loss to the country and inconvenience to the general public. The sources said, General Manager Operations had cautioned the divisional officers in the presence of DS Karachi to take immediate steps for the protection of this particular bridge due to excessive scour around the piers during his last visit to Karachi on July 7 this year.
"FGIR during his last inspection of Karachi Division carried out from May 2-4 for the year ending December 2005, vide item No 18.9.5 of the report had remarked that the proposal for protection of the foundation of pier Nos 2 to 5 had yet to be finalised," the sources quoted the ministry as disclosing to the committee.
The sources added the instructions regarding pre-flood inspections of bridges, protection works, patrolling of track and vigilance during floods as contained in Chapter-28 of Way and Works Manual were apparently not followed.