Authorities see Karachi plan partially completed in next fiscal year

The provincial coordination and implementation committee was briefed on Monday on water supply, sewerage treatment and disposal, solid waste management, mass transit and infrastructure schemes under the Karachi package.

Sindh Planning and Development Department chairperson Muhammad Waseem and others briefed the meeting, convened under Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and attended by relevant provincial and federal officials including the Karachi Corps Commander, on projects under the Karachi package.

Stormwater drains

There are seven schemes planned for stormwater drains at the cost of Rs258.7 billion, according to Waseem. These include clearing rivers and nullahs such as the Lyari and Malir Rivers, and Gujjar, Mehmoodabad and Orangi Nullahs. Besides, the cost of fixing Defence Housing Authority's stormwater drainage was estimated at Rs10 billion. Karachi Commissioner Sohail Rajput said he had completed a physical survey for these projects and the NED University of Engineering and Technology had been engaged for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping.

The meeting was told that 60 per cent of the projects would be completed by July 2021 and the remaining by July 2022.

Another Rs4 billion was estimated as the cost for relocating the people living there currently. Different options were discussed for their rehabilitation, with the Centre planning to construct 12,000 flats at the cost of Rs36 billion to accommodate those displaced by these schemes.

Dewatering facilities and cleaning of nullahs temporary storage is to be launched for Rs1.7 billion under the World Bank's Solid Waste Emergency and Efficiency project.

Mass transit

The long-awaited Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) was stated to be a Rs300 billion project, with Rs250 billion being loaned by the Chinese government. The project is expected to be completed by June 30, 2021 and Rs19.5 billion has been utilised thus far, the meeting was told.

Meanwhile, a project pertaining to buses is expected to be completed by June 30, 2021. The Centre has allocated Rs7.9 billion out of the estimated cost of Rs11 billion for operationalising these buses.

Besides, Sindh has initiated work on the Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit project, which is scheduled for completion by June 2021. Other projects, including the Yellow Line BRT, were also discussed, with the meeting told they would be funded by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Water supply, sewerage

The K-IV project - which remains in its first phase even now - was discussed as well. Thus far, Rs11.3 billion has been utilised and the estimated remaining funds are pending review.

Besides, eight schemes for sewerage treatment and disposal have been launched at the cost of Rs162.6 billion, of which Rs12.42 billion has been utilised thus far.

Moreover, Rs10.7 billion out of Rs36.2 billion of the Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan (SIII) has been spent.

Further, 'working committees' were set up during the meeting for the completion of the Karachi package. These sub-committees will be headed by the commissioner and city administrator.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2020.