KARACHI, Sept 18: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Thursday, directed the concerned officials to expedite Banaras Chowk’s development works to ensure that the Banaras Road is re-opened for traffic from Oct 15.

The Nazim, who visited Banaras Chowk to see the progress of the project, also reviewed the sites from where encroachments have been removed.

Briefing the Nazim about the pace of development works at Banaras Chowk, the city government’s executive district officer (Works and Services), Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, said that the project had been delayed owing to encroachments, government offices and water board’s pipelines.

He said now when encroachments have been removed, the project would be completed at a faster pace to ensure smooth passage to vehicular traffic.

The Nazim, who was accompanied by MPA Hameedullah Khan and other officials, directed the officials concerned to undertake the work round-the-clock and he himself would be visiting the project site shortly.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the city government said that installation of sodium lights at Allama Shabbir Usmani and National Stadium roads has started and the entire work would be accomplished in a fortnight.

He said a decision on installation of street-lights from Abul Isphani Road to Bhayani Heights and from Stadium Road to Federal B’ Area will be undertaken soon.