Bilawal inaugurates Munawar Suhrawardy Underpass

CM says Drigh Road Flyover to be reconstructed soon

KARACHI: The Drigh Road underpass, now known as the Munawar Suhrawardy Underpass, constructed on Sharae Faisal was inaugurated on Saturday, much to the relief of the city’s residents.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also announced the reconstruction of the Drigh Road Flyover. “I think its alignment is defective, therefore it would be reconstructed with new alignment,” said Shah, who is also an engineer.

He apologised to the people of Karachi for the hardships caused by the construction work of the underpass. Again you will face the same problems when the Drigh Road Flyover is reconstructed, he cautioned.

Shah said that the portion of Sharae Faisal from Metropole to the airport would be completed soon, while the portion from the airport to Steel Mill would be ready by the end of next month.



He said that a debate on social media has started that whether the underpass had a drainage system or not. “I am clarifying to everyone that the underpass has an efficient drainage system and rainwater will not accumulate in it,” he said.

After receiving some complaints, the chief minister said he would remove the officers who are found to be lethargic and inefficient in completion of development works, thereby hindering progress in the city. As far as quality is concerned, Shah said he was monitoring the work himself.

He said that on the instructions of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari the Sindh government would continue to serve people of the province. He hoped that in the 2018 election the PPP would emerge as the largest party in Karachi.

Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro highlighted the ongoing development projects and schemes in the city.



Earlier, Bilawal unveiled the plague to inaugurate the underpass constructed at a cost of Rs660 million within a period of less than four months. He said he was very happy to inaugurate the underpass named after the Munawar Suhrawardy as he was a big player in the politics of Karachi and a key member of the PPP. Suhrawardy rendered a lot sacrifices for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan, said Bilawal.

The PPP chairperson said the party was constructing underpasses, overhead bridges and roads throughout the city. “Now the problem of cleanliness in the city is also being addressed,” he said. Bilawal vowed that his party’s government in Sindh would be serving the people of Karachi sincerely and with dedication.

The 450 metre-long underpass was completed 15 days earlier and the work on the beautification has recently been completed. The barrel width of the flyover is 52m.