Karachi: DHA modifies Gizri flyover design after SHC decision

[Naveed Yaseen]

The Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has announced that the design of the Gizri Flyover is being changed in light of the recent decision of Sindh High Court (SHC).

DHA Administrator Brig. Khalid Tirmizi told a representative delegation of the Defence Residents’ Society (DRS) on Thursday that the after the design of the flyover is changed, it will terminate at the Khyaban-e-Shamsheer and Khyaban-e-Hafiz intersection instead of the Total Petrol Pump.

The DRS delegation led by its president Zafar Iqbal was informed that the flyover project will be completed by December 2009. DHA’s Senior Project Director Brig. (retd) Iftikhar Hyder said that the process of addressing stipulated environmental concerns as required by the Environmental Protection Agency has been initiated.

The DHA administrator said that the repair work on the DHA Desalination Plant Project had been inordinately delayed due to a lingering financial dispute between the Cogen Company and the plant’s manufacturer. He claimed that the resolution of the dispute between the two stakeholders was getting closer, and it is hoped that the project would soon become operational.

It should be recalled here that the DHA executive board had been briefed on January 13, 2009, that the DHA Cogen desalination plant, which fell into disrepair on September 12, 2008, will restart functioning by early March this year after repair and replacement of its damaged parts.

Brig. Tirmizi said the security system in DHA and Clifton was being revamped by the DHA Vigilance Committee with the support of private security companies. He added that surveillance cameras are being stalled at 10 major entry points of the DHA.

DHA Storm Water Drainage Project Consultant Dr Lakhani said that work related to the reconstruction of damaged roads along the newly laid stormwater drains in the DHA was going on in full swing. The DHA administrator also reiterated the claim in categorical terms that the 50-kilometre-long road network being built at a cost of Rs700 million would be completed in all respects before June 30 this year positively.

Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zeenat Ahmed informed the meeting that a survey revealed that 2500 manhole covers were missing at various locations in DHA. She added that the same are being replaced by newly manufactured versatile covers with improved specifications and strength. All open manholes in DHA will be fixed with new covers in six weeks, she concluded.

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