Ebad orders Lyari Expressway completed by year-end

Karachi 

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan is unhappy with the years-long delay in the completion of the Lyari Expressway and has ordered the “vital project” to be readied by the end of this year.

He issued this and other directives on Monday while chairing a meeting that reviewed the pace of work on the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway M-9, the Lyari Expressway (LEW) and other development projects of Karachi. 

The governor said that “it is very unfortunate that work on this project of vital importance for Karachiites’ had been in limbo due to various reasons for a long time. “As work on this crucial expressway has started after a gap of eight years, all stakeholders must ensure that it is completed as soon as possible.”

The governor directed that the LEW project be completed by December so as to ensure its maximum benefits for Karachiites. The purpose of holding regular meetings of all stakeholders was to ensure prompt removal of all bottlenecks in the way of development projects in their presence, he added.

Khan said that there was now a dispute of right of way of only 1.1 kilometres, and hoped that it would be resolved by next week through court. 

He lauded the timely release of funds and dues by the NHA and commended the pledge of the chairman of the authority to provide the necessary funds when needed, which, he said, would help in completing the project within the stipulated time.

He directed the deputy commissioners of the West and Central districts to maintain close  liaison with the FWO authorities and keep them updated on the matter of the remaining right of way. The initiation of work on the Karachi-Hyderabad Motor way M-9 was also very commendable as the 136-kilometre state- of-the-art motorway would provide updated and modern travel facilities to commuters, he added.

The governor hailed the initiation of work on the Sukkur-Multan Motorway, and hoped that it would be completed within the stipulated time. As law and order had improved considerably in the province, emphasis was being laid on the accelerated completion of various development projects, he said.

He also directed the KWSB MD to resolve the matter of the design of the K-IV project to ensure its early initiation.

Chairman NHA Shahid Ashraf Tarar held out the assurance that the northbound track of the LEW would be completed and opened for use by December 25. All steps, including a prompt release of the required funds, would be ensured in this regard, he pledged.

Director General Frontier Works Organisation Major General Muhammad Afzal informed the governor that the latest equipment and machinery had been deployed at the construction site. Difficulties were being witnessed in construction work due to the matter of right of way in patches, which would be resolved soon, he said.

The meeting was also attended by Local Government Jam Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Principal Secretary to Governor Muhammad Hussain Syed, Secretary Local Government Noor Muhammad Leghari, Commissioner Karachi Syed Asif Hyder Shah and Municipal Commissioner Sami uddin Siddiqui.