Karachi: Manghopir Road still incomplete despite release of funds

[Naveed Yaseen]

KARACHI: Opposition leader in the City Council, Jumman Darwan demanded the Sindh government to take notice of the pending construction of a road in Gadap Town while the Sindh government has already provided the required funds for the purpose.

Darwan added that the project was initiated on January 3, 2004 and construction of the road was started during the tenure of the former city nazim. The road was only constructed till the Manghopir police station but it was never completed and five years have passed since the construction started.

Talking about the details of the scheme, Darwan said that the improvement of the Manghopir Road from Sarhad Petrol Pump to Surjani Turn (Phase-II) with a revised distance of 6.6 km related to Tameer-e-Karachi Programme (TKP) at the cost of Rs 248.830 million is yet to be constructed. In this regard, the Provincial Development Working Party under the aegis of the Sindh government had initiated the project while the Sindh government had vide Office Memorandum no SO (Dev) – PDWP – 9/70 – P&D/2006 dated: July 4, 2006 issued by the then Sindh Local Government Secretary Fazlur Rehman, ensured the availability of the required funds. The difference of distance after revision demanded more funds henceforth the Sindh government had vide an administrative order approved the additional funds of Rs 99.060 million.

Darwan added that, however, the project could not be completed while the Sindh government Planning and Development Department (T&C Section) vide letter no 088/P&D/T&C/CDGK/2008 dated: January 3 stated that the approval already granted vide letter no SOT (LG) – 4394/05 dated: March 4, 2007 does not need any further change. The letter also read that the provincial government has already provided its share of Rs 6,000 million in the TKP for the CDGK and no further funds could be provided. He said that the provincial ombudsman had also directed on September 22, 2001 that Manghopir Road should be constructed. Manghopir Road was an interprovincial route and needs completion without any further delay. irfan aligi

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