Four months on, Tariq Road is finally complete

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari inaugurates completed road as well as Baloch Colony Flyover on Sunday

KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari inaugurated the long-awaited completion of Tariq Road on Sunday.

Ironically, the Sindh government completed the project in four months and, according to local government department's director of technical services, Niaz Ahmed Somroo, the construction work kicked off in January.

Bilawal said the reconstruction of Karachi is a huge task and the Sindh government is successfully doing its job for the betterment of the city and its people. He said that under the Sindh government's Rs10-billion Karachi package, important roads, flyovers, underpasses and sewerage schemes have been started. He added that their priority is to complete the projects by June 2017 so that another Rs10-billion package could be announced for the people of Karachi. "I have already issued instructions to the chief minister for this purpose and we are committed to restoring Karachi as the city of lights, peace, employment and investment," he said.



He lauded Shah and the team executing the Karachi package for completing their work within the stipulated timeframe. "I am thankful to the Sindh government team and also appreciate the traders' community of Tariq Road who cooperated and supported the execution of the scheme," he said.

Previously, driving on Tariq Road was nothing short of a nightmare, with the road dotted with shopping plazas, huge ditches, illegal haphazard parking and overflowing gutters. The Sindh government repaired the sewage and water lines and also installed a new water line. The poles of K-Electric and other utilities, according to Somroo, were relocated.

"Earlier, the poles were installed on the road, choking the traffic," he said, adding that after shifting the poles back and constructing the footpath, they have turned the two-lane road into a three-lane one, including space for parking.



Apart from that, he explained that a storm water drain has also been constructed and all the roads leading to Tariq Road have been carpeted. "Tariq Road won't get inundated with rainwater anymore," he assured, adding that the storm water drain has been constructed with a proper slope. The entire project was constructed at a cost of Rs560 million.

Remodelling of Baloch Colony Flyover

Bilawal also inaugurated the remodelled Baloch Colony Flyover, which was completed in four months at a cost of Rs80 million. The portion of the Baloch Colony Flyover, which was going towards Drigh Road, was taken down and the road on that passage was converted into a six-lane one, said Somroo.

Apart from the six lanes, he said that one lane has been designated for a bus stop, where they will also install benches. "This will reduce the bottlenecks on Sharae Faisal," he said. For the construction of an underpass on Drigh Road, he said it would be finished by the end of May.



Later, the PPP chairperson appreciated the chief minister for his untiring efforts and service for the people of Karachi. "Well done Shah sahib, you are laborious and hardworking," he said, urging the chief minister to ensure that all the projects are completed within their stipulated times.