KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah in order to ensure pace and quality of works has directed Planning & Development department to start inspection of the roads being constructed in the province through Annual Development Programme (ADP), Asian Development Bank and Maintenance & Repair (M&R) head and report him.
He issued these directives while presiding over a meeting at CM House here on Thursday. The meeting was attended by Minister Works & Services Imdad Pitafi, Chairman P&D Mohammad Waseem, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Work & Services Aijaz Memon, concerned chief engineers and other officers. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah constituted a committee under Chairman P&D Mohammad Wassem with the task to review status of each and every scheme, including release of funds, utilistaion of funds, pace of work and quality of work. “I want you to start inspection of the roads and buildings being constructed under different programme and give me report,” he said. The members of the committee would be secretaries of all the departments and DG P&D.
The W&S department has launched 488 road sector schemes in which 396 are on-going and 92 new. The approved cost of the schemes is Rs25772 million against which the government has released Rs15209.126 million and the expenditures are Rs6998.721 million. By the end of current financial year 330 km road would be completed.
There are eight on-going buildings schemes launched for Rs228 million against which Rs65.404 million have been released and the expenditures are Rs9.402 million. The Minister works, Imdad Pitafi told the Chief Minister that 41 road sector schemes would be completed by June 2018. He added that nine schemes were completed by October 2017. They are widening of Hala-Shahdadpur-Sanghar road for Rs700.133 million, reconstruction of road from Yousif Dahri Mori regulator to Bandhi Manhoro road, Shaheeb Benazirabad for Rs264.024 million, Improvement of Road from Matiari to Allah Dino Sand Road Rs338.773, improvement of road from Ruk to Lakhi of Rs80.97 million, reconditioning of Road from Paljiani Station to Tando Jam via Shahpur for Rs198.671 million, road from sakrand to Sarhani Rs459.148 million, road from Jhudo Nabisar for Rs115.332 million and construction of Overhead bridge on Railway Southern side of Railway Station subzi Mandi, Shaheed Bnenazirabad for Rs252.893 million.
Mr Pitafi told the chief minister that 13 road secrtor schemes would be completed by December 2017. These roads are Rs622.044 million Mataro Kario Ganhwar to Kharwah, Badin, Rs728.185 million Rando Allahyar-Tando Adam Road, Rs197.06 million road from Deh 170 to Tando Jan Mohammad Distt Mirpurkhas, Rs358.552 million Samaro jhudo road, and others. On this the chief minister said that the deadline give for the completion of these 13 raods must be complied for.
Giving presentation on Sindh Provincial Road Improvement project launched with the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Rs22750 million, Mr Pitafi said that the works on the six raods under the project was in full swing.
He said that 44-km Thul-Kadhkot Road launched for Rs2,065.2 million has been completed by 46 percent, 36-km Sheranpur-Ratodero Road of Rs1.450 million has been done by 21 percent, 64-km Khyber to Snaghra via Tando Adam Road of Rs2.8 billion has been done by 43.76 percent. 63-km Sanghar to Mirpurkhas via Sindhri Road of Rs2.4 billion has achieved 24 percent progress, 67-km Tando Mohammad Khan to badin road of Rs3.3 billion has touched 24 percent progress and 54-km Digri to Naukot Road of Rs3.3 billion has achieved 24 percent progress.
Murad Ali Shah said that he has given Rs3.4 billion for Maintenance & Repair of 23 roads.
He directed Chairman P&D to constitute (M&R) to constitute an inspection team to visit M&R works to ensure their quality. “I would also visit the repair works and it must be done properly,” he said.
Published in Daily Times, December 1st 2017.