Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh government has allocated Rs 8 billion for 14 mega development projects for Karachi in its 2017-18 budget.

Niaz Soomro, the Local Government Department project director, said that these projects included four flyovers, roads, water drains and improvement of infrastructure.

“Roads and drainage systems in Cantonment Railway Station will be rebuilt on modern lines. Roundabouts and roads from Kanda Wala Building on MA Jinnah Road to Garden West and East will also be remodeled,” he said.

The modification and reconstruction of Zaibun Nisa Street and Abdullah Haroon Road will also be undertaken.

“The ICI Bridge Intersection will be expanded. Signals will also be installed there. The Tipu Sultan Road will be reconstructed. Roads from National Cricket Stadium, New Town Police Station to Millennium Mall will also be widened,” he said.

“Two flyovers will be constructed on Tipu Sultan Road and Khalid Bin Waleed Intersection in order to provide signal free access to commuters on Shaheed Millat Road from Baloch Colony Bridge to Jail Road Bridge,” he said.

“A bridge will be constructed at Lee Market to decrease the traffic load. A flyover is planned at Sunset Boulevard on Korangi Road as well,” he said.

“The roads alongside Korangi Nullah, Hasan Square to Lyari River, Star Gate to Chakora Nullah Shahrah-e-Fiasal and Habib Bank SITE Nullah will also be repaired. Water pipelines will also be shifted from these areas,” he said.

Under the Karachi Mega City Project 2016-17, the Sindh government has started 15 development projects worth Rs 9.58 billion. Around Rs 6.20 billion have so far been utilised on these projects. Ten projects have been completed while work on the remaining projects will be completed by July 2017. “Work on the Submarine Underpass will, however, be completed by November this year,” Soomro said.

He said that with the assistance of Malir Cantonment Authority, a 200 feet wide road will be constructed from Gate 2 Malir Cantonment to Super Highway via Memon Goth. The project will cost Rs 350 million, he said.

“The Sindh Planning and Development Department should be held responsible for the non-approval of development projects presented by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the Karachi Development Authority for the new fiscal year. The Local Government Department did not play any role in this regard,” he said.

He said that efforts would be made to make Shahrah-e-Faisal a model road.

Published in Daily Times, June 30th, 2017.