KARACHI: The Sindh government has planned to construct the Malir Expressway, stretching from Karachi Port to Super Highway, to serve as the southern alternative route for carrying 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 Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and ADB country director Werner E Liepach at CM House recently. The ADB country chief was assisted by his team while the chief minister was assisted by additional development chief secretary Mohammad Waseem and his principal secretary, Naveed Kamran Baloch.
Discussing the ambitious project, the CM said 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 the new road will facilitate the heavy traffic of the port, Korangi Industrial Area, Landhi Industrial Area, Steel Mills, Port Qasim and other such areas toward upcountry through the National and Super highways.
Shah said that the federal government, with the assistance of ADB, is also constructing the 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 with 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 CM to expedite the paperwork and surveys so he could get it approved from the ADB board that is scheduled to meet in October.
The development secretary briefed the meeting on the Rs62.041-billion ADB-funded projects, including the Rs18.981-billion Sindh Cities Improvement Programme, Rs22.749-billion Sindh Provincial Road Improvement Project and Rs20.311-billion Enhancing Public Private Partnership on Sindh.
According to officials, the Sindh Cities Improvement Programme is aimed at increasing quality, reliability and coverage of water and waste management services in the participating towns. Under the programme, North Sindh Urban Services Corporation (NSUSC) has been established in different towns in New Sukkur, Sukkur, Rohri, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Larkana, Ghotki and Khairpur.
Under the Sindh Roads Improvement Project, reconstruction and reconditioning of six roads stretching over 328 kilometres is being carried out. City-to-city road network will enhance the socio-economic activities, reduce travel time, wear and tear of vehicles and improve road connectivity under the project, he claimed. The roads are being reconstructed in Tando Mohammad Khan, Badin, Matiari, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-Kashmore and Larkana.
The ADB is also providing $193 million to the Sindh government to enhance public-private partnerships. According to officials, the ADB also wants to support the provincial government in disaster management, education and coastal community development programmes.
