CM tells LG dept to give clear-cut deadlines for completion of three Karachi projects

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while presiding over a review meeting on Monday on three important projects of Karachi — Karimabad underpass, Korangi Causeway Bridge and Malir Expressway — directed the local government department to tell him the clear-cut completion deadlines for the three schemes.

“Why is this inordinate delay in completing these projects when the allocated funds have been released well in time?” the CM questioned the local government department while chairing the meeting. He directed the department’s officials to submit date-wise completion deadlines for the three projects.

The meeting was held at the CM House and attended by Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, Local Government Secretary Khalid Hyder Shah and project directors Niaz Soomro and Zulfiqar Abro.

The meeting was told that the Karimabad underpass project was initiated by the Sindh government through the Karachi Development Authority. It was said that the cost of the project was Rs 3.8 billion. The length of the underpass was 1,080 metres of which 300 metres had been completed. The overall progress in the project was 35 per cent.

The CM directed the local government department to provide a proper and effective drainage system for the underpass to avoid accumulation of rainwater. In response to a question, the CM was told that a roundabout in front of the Meena Bazaar was being developed to regulate the traffic movement.

Murad directed Ghani and the Karachi mayor to expedite the construction work as the incomplete project had been causing problems in the flow of traffic. About the Korangi Causeway Bridge, the meeting was told that the project had been launched for Rs6.4 billion and scheduled to be completed on January 31, but the deadline may not be met. The overall progress in the project was 30 per cent, the meeting was told.

The CM directed the local government minister to personally monitor progress in the bridge so that it could be completed in time. The meeting was informed that the Malir Expressway was a 38.889 kilometre-long project from Jam Sadiq Bridge to Kathore. The construction of the first segment of the expressway from Jam Sadiq Bridge to Shah Faisal Colony would be completed by December 25. The CM directed Ghani to reconstruct the road from Shah Faisal Colony to Airport.