KARACHI: While reviewing 21 development schemes costing Rs10 billion in the Karachi package, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed the government authorities to complete the schemes by this December.
“I will provide the necessary funds but work must be done within the stipulated time,” he said, while presiding over a meeting at CM House on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the CM directed the local government department to submit their relevant documents to the planning and development department by today (Wednesday) and get them approved by the technical committee and provincial development working party so that their schemes can be completed by December 2016.
-Road development –
Additional development chief secretary Mohammad Waseem said that the Rs10-billion Karachi package has 21 schemes. “As per our initial planning, these schemes are [supposed] to be completed during the current financial year,” he said. He explained that the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto flyover at Shaheen Complex will cost Rs754 million and the 400-metre flyover will be completed in eight months.
The CM was told that the construction of University Road from Hassan Square to Nipa Chowrangi will cost Rs995 million and the road’s total length is going be 3.5 kilometres while its width is 16.1 metres. The CM directed the project director to submit the relevant planning documents by today (Wednesday) and take it up in the technical committee meeting on Friday. He said the road must have drains constructed on both the sides.
Waseem also informed that the construction of University Road from NED to Safoora Chowk is a Rs780-million scheme. The length of the road is 4.5 kilometres, with a two-metre footpath, drainage and LED lights. It is supposed to be completed within the next six months. The chief minister asked the planning and development department to approve the scheme at the technical committee meeting on Friday.
Discussing the rehabilitation of Tariq Road from Shaheed-e-Millat Road to Shahrah-e-Quaideen, the CM was informed that the 2.1km project will cost Rs523.2 million. The project director was directed to widen the road as much as possible. Shah also urged them to give it a surface drain and make it green and illuminated with lights. The project director said there were some issues of shifting of utilities’ installations, which the CM asked the chief secretary to personally handle. “This [should be] clear that no scheme should get stuck due to other issues – get them resolved to start the schemes in time,” he said.
The meeting was informed that the Natha Khan Road requires the construction of a U-turn to reduce traffic pressure. The scheme has been approved for Rs330 million.
-Flyovers and underpasses –
Shah was also briefed about a flyover at Manzil Pump on N-5 Karachi. The cost of the project is Rs553.969 million and the flyover will be 400 metres in length. It will cater to the growing traffic pressure of Landhi Industrial Area.
It will be a three-lane flyover with a separate lane dedicated for traffic from Landhi. The CM said that this project must be completed by November, 2016.
The meeting was also briefed about the Submarine Chowrangi underpass, which costs Rs667.6 million. The underpass will be constructed on Khaliquz Zaman Road, reaching Submarine Chowrangi. The chief minister directed the planning and development department to look into every aspect of the project so that it could be constructed in public interest. He asked the chief secretary to coordinate with Defence Housing Authority and the cantonment board to shift the utilities.
The CM said that the re-modelling of the Baloch Colony flyover was the most important scheme. This bridge has some design problems, therefore one of its ramps remains closed, he said. It must be redesigned by making necessary changes to it, said the CM. The re-modelling project will cost Rs112.82 million, its two existing ramps will be demolished and in their place a road will be constructed with a separate lane, Shah was told. A similar problem is being faced with the Drigh Colony flyover, which causes serious traffic jams at the corner where traffic heads towards Saddar. This bridge also needs re-modelling at a cost of Rs556.08 million.
