Sindh Govt Plans To Construct Malir Expressway As Route

Sindh government has planned to construct Malir Expressway, starting from Karachi Port to Super highway, and it will serve as southern alternate route to carry dedicated traffic of the port and Industrial areas to the main highways.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to finance the project. This was disclosed in a meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and country Director ADB Werner E. Liepach here at the CM House on Thursday.

The Bank’s country chief was assisted by his team while the chief minister was assisted by Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Mohammad Waseem and his principal secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch.

The chief minister discussing the ambitious project of Malir Expressway said that his government has envisaged a road project starting from Karachi port via Defence Korangi Road, parallel to Malir river, Korangi Industrial area, National highway to Link Road and towards Super Highway.

He said that this road will facilitate the heavy traffic of the port, korangi Industrial Area, Landhi Industrial area, Steel Mills, Port Qasim and such other areas towards up-country through National and super highways.

Murad Ali Shah said that the federal government with the assistance of Asian Development bank is also constructing Harbour Front Bridge from deep sea to Lyari Expressway. When both the projects will be completed they will work as ring roads connecting the port round the entire city.

The ADB country director said that the project was workable and some of its papers were shared with him and his team. He urged the chief minister to expedite its paper work and survey so that he can get it approved from the ADB Board scheduled to meet in October.

Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Mohammad Waseem briefed the meeting on Rs 62041 million ADB funded projects, including Rs 18981 million Sindh Cities Improvement Programme, Rs 22749 million Sindh Provincial Road Improvement Project and Rs20311 million Enhancing Public Private Partnership on Sindh.

Sindh Cities Improvement Programme is aimed at increasing quality, reliability and coverage of water and waste management services in participating town. Under the programme North Sindh Urban Services Corporation (NSUSC) has been established in different town such as New Sukkur, Sukkur, Rohri, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Larkana, Ghotki and Khairpur.

There were some issues such as service delivery, issues of operational outreach of coverage areas in different cities, delay in the award/execution of contract issues, old drainage system, low voltage/ load-shedding, lack of civic sense, unplanned urbanization, lack of infrastructure and lack of technical staff.

The ADB is of the view that the concerned local bodies of the participating towns must recover water supply and garbage lifting charges. The tariff for water supply and sanitation has been fixed. The recoveries of service charges were very necessary for developing sense responsibility among the concerned citizens.

The chief minister proposed the ADB to start from two cities of the choice as model cities and then keep expanding.

On this the ACS (Dev) Mr Waseem and ADB representative in Karachi will discuss on it further and settle. This project was started in 2008 and will be completed in 2018.

Under the Rs. 22,750 million Sindh Roads Improvement Project reconstruction/reconditioning of six roads stretching over 328 kilometers are being constructed.

Under the project city to city road network will enhance the socio-economic activities, reduce travel time, wear and tear of vehicles and improve road connectivity.

The roads being reconstructed are Tando Mohammad Khan, Badin, Matiari, Mirpuurkhas, Sanghar, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-kashmore and Larkana.

The ADB has allocated Rs. 2 billion for the current financial year and Sindh government allocation is Rs200 million.

The ADB is also providing $193 million to support Sindh government to enhance Public Private Partnership (PPP). The project envisages strengthening the Sindh government capacity to select and develop PPP projects, effectively manage PPP project related fiscal risk and strengthen PPP project management capacity of line departments.

It will support the development goals of provincial government for sustainable infrastructure provision through PPP projects.

The ADB also wants to support Sindh government in disaster management, education and coastal community development programmes.

The chief minister thanked the ADB chief for his interest and support in the development of Sindh.