CM approves Rs21.5b for road repairs

Mayor says 40 roads need patchwork, nine have to be reconstructed

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has approved a comprehensive package worth Rs21.53 billion, including grant-in-aid worth Rs13 billion for improving the roads of 24 Town Municipal Corporations (TMCs).

The initiative aims to ease traffic congestion, improve public safety, and boost economic activity in the provincial capital.

The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi, Secretary to the CM Raheem Shaikh, and other relevant officers.

Nasir Shah informed the chief minister that 24 TMCs across Karachi had requested funding to repair severely dilapidated roads and streets. Due to financial constraints, these TMCs are unable to carry out the works independently.

Mayor Wahab reported that 409 roads across seven districts of Karachi need rehabilitation, including 400 requiring patch repairs and nine requiring complete reconstruction.

According to a breakdown presented by Nasir Shah, a total of 409 roads across Karachi's seven districts have been identified for rehabilitation at an estimated cost of Rs10.93 billion. Of these, 400 roads will undergo patchwork repairs, while nine roads will be reconstructed end-to-end to address severe structural damage.

An additional 15 per cent allocation of Rs1.64 billion is needed for sewerage and water supply projects, bringing the total project cost for this component to Rs12.57 billion, the mayor stated.

District-wise estimates show that Malir has the highest number of roads identified for repair (98), followed by West (81), Central (53), South (50), East (49), Korangi (39), and Keamari (39).

The highest tentative cost has been estimated for Keamari district at Rs2.32 billion, followed by West at Rs2.31 billion and East at Rs1.85 billion.

The meeting was informed that 24 TMCs will implement internal road rehabilitation schemes within their respective jurisdictions. These include major allocations for TMC Manghopir (Rs1.75 billion), TMC Gadap (Rs960 million), TMC Baldia (Rs944 million), and TMC Mauripur (Rs858 million), among others. Most TMC schemes involve patchwork repairs, while selected roads in Gulberg, Gulshan, Jinnah, Sohrab Goth, Orangi, Manghopir, Saddar, and Landhi will undergo end-to-end rehabilitation.

The chief minister was briefed that these rehabilitation efforts are vital for improving urban mobility, public safety, and overall road infrastructure in Karachi.

He recalled his previous instructions issued at a meeting on January 7, where he had directed that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) would rehabilitate 26 major roads.

The KMC's assessment estimates, as presented by Mayor Wahab, put costs at Rs5.53 billion for road reconstruction and resurfacing, Rs1 billion for urgent water and sewerage repairs to be managed by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation, Rs1 billion for storm drain retention wall construction and reinforcement, and Rs1 billion for streetlight installation and upgrades.