Complete the Karachi-Hyderabad highway in 24 months

President Zardari gives the go-ahead to remove all hindrances in expansion of Superhighway M-9.

KARACHI:

President Asif Ali Zardari has given the go-ahead to remove all hindrances in the expansion of the Karachi-Hyderabad highway and complete the project within two years.

He was presiding over a meeting at the Bilawal House on Thursday to review the progress on the up-gradation of Superhighway M-9 project; construction of Badin link-road; Amri Bridge across Indus River to connect Qazi Ahmed (N-5); and the 14-km-long Larkana-Mohenjo Daro road.

Some influential people are creating hurdles in the expansion of Karachi-Hyderabad highway as they possess land alongside the road in Jamshoro, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.

The president has directed the officials concerned to proceed with the plan without any concern. Work on the six-lane road project would start by December and completed within 18 to 24 months.

The 136-km long road is part of the Pakistan National Highways Network and is currently being expanded to a 6-lane motorway. The National Highway Authority had awarded a contract of Rs24.93 billion to a Malaysian construction company. The construction was to be completed in three years, but work has been delayed due to interference of some influential, who claim to have thousands of acres of land starting from Nooriabad to Jamshoro.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2012.