KARACHI: Owing to Sindh government’s negligence and incompetency construction work of Lyari Expressway and resettlement project could not be completed despite the passing of 14 years. The estimated cost of this project has increased up to 500 per cent.
According to details the project, which started with three billion rupees, has reached up to Rs 22 billion and 14 thousand plots were needed at the start but now owing to the vast number of affected people the number of the plots has increased while a huge number of residences of Liaqatbad and Ilyas Ghot have approached the court.
According to well informed sources it has been indicated by the government that Rs nine billion will be spent on the project to resettle the displaced people. Financial irregularities worth millions of rupees have been committed in the sale and purchase of plots owing to appointment of corrupt and incompetent official for the project of resettlement.
Hundreds of affected people including widows, orphans and poor are facing difficulties while land has been allotted to irrelevant people.
Sources said that owing to irregularities in the project of rehabilitation of displaced families the Lyari Expressway project was delayed.
The southern part of Lyari Expressway had been completed in 2008. However due to lack of funds and unavailability of required land the northern part has not been completed while four billion rupees are required to complete this project.
According to National Highway Authority (NHA) LEW project was delayed due to the matters of right of way and due to delayed cost of LEW. The resettlement project has increased by Rs 13billion and Rs nine billion respectively.
Sources said that funds for affected people of LEW projects had been issued many times by the federal government however funds could not be used due to irregularities of officials of the LEW.
Apart from this huge irregularities were commited in the allocated land for affected people in Hawesbay scheme. Taiser and Baldia and residential and commercial plots were sold illegally.
The Lyari resettlement project is under the supervision of Sindh government while NHA is working on LEW project.
The official concerned, of the provincial government said that more than 29000 affected people had been resettled and resettlement of more than one thousand was under process adding that officials said in this context the federal government has issued Rs. 200 million adding that they said required land has been delivered to NHA soon.
On the other side NHA sources said that a bridge of 1.7km from Sindhi hotel to Teen Hatti had to be built under the proposed amendment in the project adding that sources said right of way is needed for this.
Sources further said that land on Ilyas Goth has been acquired and construction work was still going on adding that on rest of land a 1.8km bridge had to be built from Mianwali to Hasan colony. However compensation was not given to affected people.
Soures said that 60 per cent part of land had been evacuated from Teen Hatti to Sindh hotel and this project was 32km long and consisted of four lanes on both sides, with two interchanges, five overpasses and five underpasses.
According to sources criminal elements and land mafia had established encroachments on under construction track starting from Mari road to Sohrab Goth.
Sources added that owing to a stay order obtained by residents of Liaqatbag and Ilyas Ghot the administration of Karachi had no right to demolish houses.
Liagatbad A,B,B one area , Angara Goth, Jang Gyan Goth and Nagman Goth area from Teen Hatti to Sir Suleman road had to be evacuated.