CM directs relocation of KE installations in Kathore

First segment of the Malir Expressway to open by December

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, during his visit to the under-construction 39.889 km Malir Expressway, evaluated the project's progress from Zero Point - near Jam Sadiq Bridge to Kathore, expressed his dissatisfaction with the administration due to their inability to relocate the K-Electric (KE) installations, which has consequently delayed the opening of the first segment of the expressway.

The chief minister reached the Zero point of Malir Expressway at Jam Sadiq Bridge, where he was received by Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, DG PPP Unit Asad Zamin, PD Niaz Soomro, Engineer Khalid Mansoor and others.

During the inspection, the CM expressed his displeasure upon discovering that the ready spans were lying on the ground and had not been installed on the pillars to create a traffic ramp to access the Malir Expressway at Zero Point. When he inquired about the delay, he was informed that KE had not yet relocated its overhead installation, which was preventing the spans from being fixed on the pillars.

The CM instructed the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that this issue was resolved within a week, warning that he would take action if it goes otherwise. He pointed out that since KE had already been paid for the relocation of its installation, their delays were unacceptable.

CM Shah drove on the Malir Expressway from Zero Point to Shah Faisal Interchange, and on the way, he discovered that land grabbing had been started on the sides of the expressway. The CM stopped there and called the deputy commissioner and SSP Korangi on the spot and inquired them why the illegal structures had started developing under their nose. "I'll not allow encroachment even on a single inch of government land," he said and ordered them to bulldoze the illegal structures and compound walls and report him.

The CM directed the PD of the Expressway to ensure the completion of the work by the end of November because he wanted the first segment, Korangi Causeway to Shah Faisal, to be opened for traffic in the first week of December.

Shah, along with his team, travelled along the expressway from Shah Faisal to Quaidabad to inspect the ongoing construction. During the briefing, it was noted that while the expressway itself was ready, the small interchange at Quaidabad had been halted due to issues with land acquisition.