KARACHI, March 11: Work on the Banaras Chowk improvement plan is likely to be delayed further in the wake of objections raised by the city government’s water and sanitation department concerning its pipelines passing underneath the roundabout.

The issue was raised by the officials of water and sanitation department on Tuesday when the district coordination officer, Mir Hussain Ali, visited Banaras Chowk to inspect its upgradation work which is in progress since August 2002.

After seeing an old pipeline about which the engineers of the water and sanitation department had expressed reservations, the DCO directed the officials to initiate work on the Qasba Road to SITE only after it is amicably resolved with the engineers of the water and sanitation department and the Khushhal Pakistan Programme at a review meeting to be convened shortly.

He, however, directed the officials to expedite work on the road proceeding towards the Government Abdullah College and another road which is approaching towards Banaras Chowk from Metroville.

The DCO was informed that the Banaras Chowk improvement plan which was being carried out under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme at a cost of Rs 46 million on its completion will bring an improvement in the flow of traffic around the Banaras Chowk, besides all those residing in the Metroville and sprawling townships of Orangi and Baldia will benefit.

Earlier, the DCO was briefed about the development works being carried out at the Banaras Chowk and in its vicinity.

MPA Hamidullah Khan, water and sanitation department’s Suleman Chandio and Khalid Malik, district officer Nisar Ahmed Sariyo and project engineer Niaz Soomro were present.