Karachi: Kamal orders completion of Signal Free Corridor III in 2 months

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Irfan Aligi
KARACHI: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal paid a surprise inspection visit at the site of the Signal-Free Corridor-III on Thursday.

During the visit, Kamal issued directives that the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) Works and Services (W&S) Department should ensure speedy completion of all phases of the SFC-III, so that the project can be opened for traffic in the next two months.

The pace of work on the construction of Preedy Street and Jail Chowrangi Flyover should be stepped up because these two loops are of pivotal importance in shedding the load of heavy traffic on Saddar and MA Jinnah Road, he said.

Kamal further issued directives to EDO W&S Department that he should submit a progress report of the work done on all projects of Corridor-III on a daily basis and initiate necessary actions against the contractor firm, consultant and project director concerned in case the report was not found satisfactory.

Kamal further directed the team of officers and engineers on the site to get the ongoing construction work finished on Jail Chowrangi-Kashmir Road loop and Shaheed-e-Millat Ramp to facilitate the people of the city. The on time completion of these phases would minimise 80 percent of the traffic problems of the city because it would shorten the distance between Sadder to Malir Cantt by 18 kilometres.

Meanwhile, Kamal was briefed on the occasion by officers in charge that 45 percent of the construction work on Preedy Street has been completed while 40 of the construction work on the Jail Chowrangi Flyover has been completed and both the channels will be open for traffic in the next two months.

It is pertinent to mention here that the SFC-III would cost Rs 2.25 billion and would have four flyovers at different junctions between Saddar and Malir Cantt. The entire length of SFC-III would be 18-km and the width would be 13.85-metres with 4-lane roads. Service roads would also be constructed additionally on either side. There would be 10 pedestrian bridges and 23 modern bus stops for the convenience of the citizens. Streetlights and a storm water drainage system will also be installed on this corridor. It is expected that the project would prove an alternative to Shahra-e-Faisal and MA Jinnah Road.

There are around 8,000 families that have voluntarily allowed the CDGK to demolish 1,385 homes and they will be rehabilitated in another area of the city. The CDGK has offered each affected family residential and commercial plots along with Rs 50,000 as immediate pecuniary relief.

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