Repair and upgrades: CM briefed on state of Sindh’s road projects

Directs works and services dept to begin repair of road from Quaidabad to Steel Mills soon

KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed the works and services department to begin the repair of the road from Quaidabad to Steel Mills as soon as possible because the people using the road were facing serious problems. "This must be done on a war footing because of my commitment to the people of my city," he said.

The CM was presiding over a meeting of the works and services department at CM House on Saturday. He was informed that it will take two months to start work on the road from Quaidabad to Steel Mills, which displeased him. "The survey of the most dilapidated portions must be started within a few days to start the repair work until the [actual] work is undertaken," he said, adding that industrialists, general public and goods transporters are facing hardship on this portion of the road. Therefore, he added, repair work must be carried out to pacify the public until the actual construction work is undertaken.

The CM was told that the construction of the road will cost Rs2.4 billion. Shah approved the project and directed them to also repair the water supply pipes before taking the project in the hand.

Malir River bridge

Briefing the chief minister on the rehabilitation of the bridge over the Malir River, the minister for works and services said that report of the consultant says that it would cost around Rs140 million to completely rehabilitate the existing bridge. The chief minister approved the scheme and directed them to start work on a priority basis.

Highway link road

The CM was further informed that the Link Road project, which connects Super Highway with National Highway, is over 20 kilometres long. Shah directed the department to finalise all the requirements, including consultancy and other paperwork, before floating it to potential partners.

The meeting was informed that the road from Sehwan to Dadu, which stretches over 33 kilometres, needs to be improved. It may be made into a dual carriageway by widening it to 24 feet with shoulders and asphalt concrete surfacing, the meeting was told.

Connecting road

The CM was informed that the rehabilitation of the road from Naushero Feroz to Mehran Highway vial Phull and Darya Khan Marri-Kot Lalu of 31km will cost Rs1.3 billion. He was informed that the road presently is 18 feet wide over an area of 20km but the remaining 11km is in a dilapidated condition and is only 12 feet wide. It needs immediate rehabilitation. The existing alignment crosses the Rohri and Nusrat canals over narrow irrigation regulators, therefore new bridges would be constructed, the meeting was informed.

Provincial road improvement project

The chief minister was informed that Sindh Provincial Road Improvement Project is being launched at a cost of Rs22.75 billion with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank, which will bear 87% of the cost. On this the chief minister asked them when the work would start. "The agreement was signed in August, 2016, so why has it not been launched so far?" he asked.

Works and services secretary Aijaz Memon assured him that the project will be started by the end of the month.

Under this project, a 67-km road from Tando M Khan to Badin, 55-km road from Digri to Naukot, 64-km road from Khyber to Sanghar via Tando Adam, 63-km from Sanghar to Mirpurkhas via Sindhri, 36-km road from Sheranpur to Ratodero and 44-km road from Thul to Kandhkot will be constructed.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2016.