KARACHI, June 13: Sindh’s Chief Secretary, Dr Mutawakkal Qazi, has called for a report from the city district government on the progress of the ongoing special development projects in the metropolis, including bottlenecks if any, so that timely completion of the same could be ensured.

The estimated cost of the projects — eight in number — is more than Rs768 million, envisaging construction of three flyovers, improvement of four roads and modification of the Korangi civic centre for setting up the Information Technology University. Two of the road improvement projects are yet to commence because funds have not been released so far.

The Shah Faisal Colony Flyover, according to informed sources, so far has cost Rs147.28 million against a total estimated cost of Rs263.6 million. The project — jointly financed by the city and Sindh governments on a fifty-fifty basis and commencing on Aug 14, 2001 — will not be ready for inauguration by the deadline due to a delay in the extension work on the 36-inch line to Malir Bund.

It is slated to be completed in August this year.

The FTC Flyover project, which was financed by the city government, will cost Rs109.4 million. The project, commencing on July 9, 2002, is supposed to be completed by July 8, 2004, but by May 2003 only 27 per cent of the work had been completed.

The Sharea Quaideen Flyover, costing Rs109 million, is another project of the city government and is likely to be completed by October 2004. This project was delayed due to some design inadequacies.

The modification project — including civil and electrical works — being carried out at the Korangi Civic Centre III Building to house the Information Technology University is a joint project of the federal, provincial and city governments. The estimated cost of the project is Rs25.87 million and was supposed to be completed by April 2003.

It could not be completed in time due to the law and order situation and also because of the irregular release of sanctioned funds.

The three road-improvement schemes will cost Rs222.18 million and are being funded by the city and provincial governments, the Defence Housing Authority and industrialists of the area besides the cantonment concerned.

The improvement work on the Korangi Road, from Hino Chowk to Korangi Crossing, was commenced in May 2002 at an estimated cost of Rs47.39 million but until May 2003 only Rs3.5 million had been spent. The slow progress has been attributed to the shifting of electrical cables and poles in the alignment of roads, delay in allocation of 600 square yards by the revenue department, and the refusal of the PTCL to construct its chambers at the site.

The improvement work on the Korangi Road, from Kalapul to Hino Chowk, was estimated to cost Rs100 million. The work has been handed over to the Defence Housing Authority for awarding it to Frontier Works Organization. But so far no progress has been reported to the city government for the delay in the commencement of the project.

The third road project pertains to the rehabilitation and improvement of Shaheed Sibghatullah Shah Road, from National Stadium to the offices of the City District Government, Karachi. The project was supposed to be launched on June 4, 2003, with the estimated cost of Rs74.79 million but it could not take off as the Sindh Government and the Faisal Cantonment had failed to release their shares of Rs18.70 million and Rs37.4 million, respectively.

The work on the dualization of the Habib Ibrahim Rehmatullah Road, from Sharea Faisal to National Stadium, was supposed to cost Rs74.66 million but it could not take off as the Sindh Government and the Faisal Cantonment are yet to be released their share of Rs27.99 and Rs18.67 million respectively.