KARACHI - Anti-encroachment drive to clear the track of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) would begin from today (Tuesday), an official announced.

Joint Director Land and Railways Imtiyaz Ahmed Siddiqui said that the operation had to be initiated on Monday but it has been delayed for a today so as to give the people more time to vacate the land. In the first phase of the operation, the encroachments near Gharibabad market are expected to be removed.

Siddiqui said that the people had already been issued notices and the authorities don’t want anybody’s loss, adding over 1000 encroachments stood intact. The heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies would also be there to cope with any unpleasant incident during the drive.

Besides the markets and shops, thousands of houses are also lying on around 30 Kilometer track of the KCR. On the other hand, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar made it clear that he would resign from his post but will not remove the houses. He had also announced to compensate the affected shopkeepers.