Sindh govt inks accord with private firm for Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Total cost of project is Rs 5.79 billion
* Time period for completion is 18 months

KARACHI: The Sindh government signed an agreement with a private firm on Wednesday regarding the construction of Rs 5.79 billion project-Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway.

The ceremony was held at the Sindh Chief Minster’s House. Secretary for Works and Services Department, Mukhtiar Ahmed Soomro and an official, Kin from the Deok Jae Construction (Pvt) Ltd signed the agreement. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah was present on the occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, Qaim said that this is a very important day for not only Sindh province but also Pakistan. He said that by implementation of this project, it would attract investors and people to participate in other projects. He added that with the follow up new and latest trends were so far invested and the time period of completion of the dual carriageway could be reduced from 24 months to 18 months so as to provide facilities to the people of the area. Qaim hoped that this project would bring changes in the people’s lives.

Earlier, Qaim while presiding over a meeting regarding the project said that roads play a vital role in communication network, which is essential for progress, development and prosperity of the country, while the present government pays full attention towards the communication sector.

He said that communication network particularly the roads are in deteriorated condition and it is very necessary to improve, renovate and reconstruct these roads so as to provide communication facility to the people and improve the economy of the province at large.

He said that Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas road will not only connect two important divisions of the province but also be the gateway for Thar Coal field. The meeting prior to the approval regarding concession agreement was presented a comprehensive briefing by Sindh Finance Secretary Fazalullah Pechuho and Special Secretary Finance Naheed Shah Durrani.

It was informed that the 4-lane divided dual carriageway of 62-km with design life of 20 years will be constructed for which two-lane highway will pass through Tando Allahyar town and improvement of the existing 2-lane Tando Allahyar By-Pass will be undertaken. Besides existing bridges at eight locations and 62 existing culverts will be reconstructed, under a BOT arrangement.

It was further informed that the total cost of the project will be Rs 5.79 billion and after construction the company will operate and maintain it for 30 years and will return the facility to the government of Sindh on completion of concession. The meeting was informed that pedestrian crossing bridges at three locations, toll gates with toll control building (plaza) for Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam, two medical aid posts with a set of ambulances priority to carry injured to nearby hospitals and two traffic aid posts will be the project’s components. staff report