LG dept draws fire over Karimabad Underpass

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over a review meeting of three important projects of the city - Karimabad Underpass, Korangi Causeway Bridge and Malir Expressway and directed the local government department to submit him a date completion plan.

"Why is this ordinate delay being faced in completing the projects when the allocated funds have been released well in time?" he questioned the local government department. He directed them to submit him a date wise completion plan for the projects.

The meeting was held at CM House on Monday and was attended by Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, PSCM Agha Wasif, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, Secretary LG Khalid Hyder Shah, Projects PDs Niaz Soomro, Zulfiqar Abro and Member P&D Sikandar

Karimabad Underpass

The Karimabad Underpass project has been initiated by the Sindh government through KDA. During the briefing, the CM was told that the underpass is a Rs3.8 billion project, with its length being 1,080 of which 300 metres have been completed. Out of 212 precast girders, 151 have been completed and overall the physical progress of the project is 35 per cent.

The CM directed the LG department to provide a proper and effective drainage system to the underpass so that rainwater may not accumulate into it.

CM Shah was told that a roundabout in front of Meena Bazaar and Bazaar-e-Faisal was being developed to regulate the traffic movement. He directed Saeed Ghani and Murtaza Wahab to expedite the construction work, which was causing problems in the flow of traffic.

Bridge at Korangi Causeway

Briefing the CM about the construction of the Bridge at Korangi Causeway, it was disclosed that the project had been launched for Rs6.4 billion. It is scheduled to be completed on January 31, 2025, but the deadline may not be met. At this, the CM directed Saeed Ghani to personally monitor the progress of the bridge so that it could be completed in time.

He was also told that out of 400, 300 piles have been completed and out of 600 girders, 504 were completed. The overall progress of the project is 30 per cent.

Malir Expressway

The Malir Expressway was a 38.889 kilometres project from Jam Sadiq to Kathore Bridge. The construction of the first segment from Jam Sadiq Bridge to Shah Faisal will be completed by December 25, 2024. At this, the CM directed the local government department to reconstruct the road from Shah Faisal to Airport.

"I want you to submit detailed date-wise completion dates of all three projects and then I will not tolerate any sort of delay," he said categorically.

Marble City

CM Shah has said that Marble City Karachi reflects the Sindh government's commitment to sustainable industrial development, economic growth, and job creation, signalling a brighter future for the province's marble and granite sector. He said this while presiding over a joint meeting of Sindh Investment Department, its subsidiary organisation - Sindh Economic Zones Management Company (SEZMC) and private partners - Kainatt Enterprises & Hassan Constructions.