09 November 2004	Tuesday	25 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Nov 8: Federal Communication Minister Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui has said that three water treatment plants would be established as part of the Lyari Expressway (LEW) project.

Talking to newsmen after attending a briefing on the project here on Monday, the minister said that these treatment plants would be established at Sindhi Hotel, Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Shershah.

He said disposal of sewage and other effluents after treatment would help reduce marine pollution. He expressed his gratitude to President Musharraf for according approval to the two gigantic projects, the LEW and Northern Bypass.

Before attending the briefing, the minister visited various sections of the LEW project site.

Mr Siddiqui recalled that President Musharraf had conceived the idea of this project during his visit to the city about three years back. The minister observed that no government in the past had paid attention to such an important project.

After completion, he said pointed out, the two projects would ease the pressure of port traffic on existing roads in the city. Apart from easing the pressure by 15 to 20 per cent, the LEW would provide easy access to people, specially the working class living in the areas like New Karachi, North Nazimabad and Nazimabad to get to their work places in minutes.

Thus, he observed, the project would help save millions of working hours at present being consumed in travelling. Besides, he added, the project would ensure better living conditions in the encroached upon areas around the expressway.

Mr Shamim Siddiqui also pointed out that the children of those living along the Lyari nullah and had been becoming a liability on the nation, would now have an opportunity to bring about an improvement in their standard of living after their families having been rehabilitated in the resettlement schemes.

Highlighting a special significance of the project, he said those who had made different spots along the LEW project sites their abode for criminal activities would have to move out. Expressing his confidence that such elements would find no other alternative place, the minister said that the development project would indirectly help authorities to curb crime and restore law and order.

Mr Siddiqui was of the view that after completion of the project, value of residential and commercial properties would automatically go up, thus bringing about prosperity in the city.

He described the multi-billion LEW project a very complicated project due to the involvement of shifting and resettlement of more than 150,000 to 200,000 people which, he said, was a time-consuming process.

The minister said that there were three-four spots where people offered some resistance in surrendering their houses for the project.

Regarding the Northern Bypass project, Shamim Siddiqui said it was a longstanding demand by Karachiites.

He pointed out that at present, the port traffic flowed on the existing city roads but after completion of the 54-km-long bypass, the traffic would have a major alternative and this would ease the pressure on city roads by about 30 per cent. The project, he added, would also bring down the rate of day to day accidents which, at times, also created law and order situation.

He said that the two projects would cater to the traffic requirements of the city over the next 20-25 years.

The minister told newsmen that, at present, the city government had allowed plying of heavy traffic, especially trailers, during specific timings. However, on completion of the bypass, heavy traffic from the port would be allowed to ply round the clock. Commuters, he said, would be able to reach from one end of the bypass to the other in just 20 minutes as against the present journey of two hours.

Mr Siddiqui also made mention of the big terminal being constructed by the city government at the Northern Bypass, and said that it would have all modern facilities.

The Sindh government has planned establishment of three-four industrial zones by utilizing the land around the project. This would help generate economic activities and job opportunities, he said.

He hoped that unauthorized factories in the city would also move to the zones, with all essential infrastructure, to start functioning legally.

Later, the minister inspected the Northern Bypass project.

Motorway police: The minister for communication has lauded the performance of motorway police.

Speaking at the inauguration of a motorway police helpline here on Monday, the minister said the deployment of the motorway police everywhere on the national highways was a dream which might be realized soon.

The minister said the introduction of 130-Helpline would be another positive step in promoting the police-people cooperation.-APP