KARACHI: Governor not satisfied with pace of work on expressway
KARACHI, April 15: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad in a five-hour long meeting on Friday expressed dissatisfaction on schedule of availability of required right of way (ROW) for construction of Lyari Expressway to its executing agency National Highway Authority (NHA) and asked the City District Government Karachi to provide the ROW in remaining towns latest by May 30.
The governor further directed Sindh mines and mineral department and the CDGK to ensure continuous supply of sand to the NHA and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) for construction of the Lyari Expressway and directed the concerned authorities to make joint efforts for completion of project well before the stipulated time, June 2006.
During the meeting Dr Ibad was told that 75 per cent route of expressway was cleared of encroachments and the remaining 25 per cent area would be cleared by June 30.
He asked the CDGK to take steps to check re-emergence of encroachments on the already cleared areas.
In this regard it was decided to set up camps in concerned areas where elected representatives and concerned officials would remain present.
Dr Ibad was informed that the executing agency was facing resistance from the affected, local councillors and nazims for the issuance of more than actual due compensation in addition to inadequate police cover.
The meeting was told that the Keamari and Lyari Towns were fully cleared with respect to availability of ROW and encroachments while the Saddar Town was also cleared except for a factory, which would be demolished soon.
Over 50 per cent areas of the Gulshan Town including scheme 33 had been cleared, 95 per cent of the Gulberg Town was cleared and remaining areas would be cleared soon, the meeting was further informed while only 20 and 25 per cent of the Liaquatabad and SITE Towns had been cleared so far.
The governor directed that while constructing roads over the bridges, the pillars must be kept at proper distances so that requirements for the future could remain intact.
Speaking on the occasion, the governor said that President Pervez Musharraf and the provincial government were taking interest in completion of the project by its stipulated time, funds were being released and now it was the responsibility of the concerned departments to make coordinated efforts for its completion.
He further asked the NHA to provide three special vehicles, which would patrol along the route of Lyari Expressway to check re-emergence of encroachments and observed that after removal, FWO would be responsible to keep the construction area clear of encroachments.
Dr Ibad observed that encroachments could not be erected without the help of area police and land department officials’ consent and asked the concerned authorities and executing agency not to depend on them and make their own arrangements for monitoring of cleared areas.
He further asked the LEP executing agency to leave space for further expansions at intersections at various locations of the expressway.
The governor said this project was not only important for the economy of the Karachi but for the whole country.—PPI/APP
