Karachi: President okays various mega projects for city

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Razzak Abro

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari, on Monday, approved different mega projects for Karachi during a high-level meeting held at the Bilawal House.

At least five of them were related to transport and communication systems, which include launching of the Karachi Mass Transit Programme, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Transit CNG Bus Project and Bus Rapid Transit System, as well as the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), completion of the Lyari Expressway and improvement of the Karachi Hyderabad Motorway.

The participants of the meeting included Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Federal Communication Minister Dr Arbab Alamgir, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Sardar Asif Ahmed Ali, Secretary General to the President Salman Farooqui, provincial ministers Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Agha Siraj Durrani, Mir Nadir Magsi and Shazia Marri besides federal and provincial officials.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said that the president has approved the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Transit CNG Bus Project for Karachi. It would be a public transport scheme, under which, 500 environmentally friendly CNG buses will be introduced. Only women would have the right to ownership besides 50 percent of the seats would be reserved for women passengers.

According to her, the city nazim would launch the scheme and would oversee its implementation. She said that the federal government would provide an interest subsidy of Rs 700,000 on each bus. The number of buses in Karachi under the project would be increased to 4,000 by 2012, she added.

About the Karachi Mass Transit, she said that the federal government would provide sovereign guarantee for the Karachi Mass Transit, which will be built on a Build-Own-Operate basis. International competitive bids will be invited soon and the scheme will be launched soon, she said.

Regarding the KCR, the minister said that it is being revived at a cost of $ 1.6 billion with international assistance. According to her, the president wants the scheme to be implemented as soon as possible. The president also directed that a resettlement plan be prepared for the rehabilitation of the people settled in the way of the KCR.

About the Lyari Expressway, Marri said that the president has approved the financing of the project. The project would be launched immediately and the planning commission is already working on the funds. She told the media persons that the president wants the governor and the chief minister to undertake vertical development for settlement of those who have been displaced due to the project.

Talking about the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), the minister said that the city nazim is making efforts for its launch as soon as possible. According to the plan, three corridors would initially be developed in the city. These include Nagan Chowrangi to Cantonment Station, Safura Goth to Numiash Chowrangi and Orangi to Board Office Chowrangi.

About development of the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway, she said that the president has directed that the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway be constructed as a modern motorway in conformity with international standards. According to her, the Karachi Sewerage Scheme was also approved at the meeting.

Marri said that it was also decided that work on the Larkana–Khairpur Bridge would be accelerated. Besides, she added, the meeting reviewed the road networks in Sindh and directed NHA for completion of the Sukkur-Shikarpur –Jacobabad Expressway and Ratodero-Sewhan additional carriageway on a priority basis.

The minister said that the president also directed that work should be expedited on Thar Coal project and other infrastructure development projects. About realignment of the RBOD-III, the president directed that consultants be assigned with the task of the proposed change of alignment. The president reviewed progress on the Hyderabad–Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway as well, while also stressing upon improvement of the canal system and lining of distributaries and minors to ensure water conservation, she added.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg12_1