KARACHI: Expressing his displeasure over a slow pace of work on certain development projects, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered the authorities concerned on Sunday to expedite the work to complete the projects as soon as possible.

He also asked the minister concerned to give top priority to remove obstacles for the early completion of the Lyari Expressway project.

The CM paid a surprise visit to the city in the morning to assess the progress of the ongoing development projects which were causing traffic jams and congestion during peak hours.

“I am well aware of the problems of the people but I need your support for completion of these projects. It is our collective duty to make this city developed, neat and clean,” he said.

Accompanied by Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, who joined him near Northern Bypass, and Transport Minister Nasir Shah, the CM also visited the Lyari Expressway where he was given a detailed briefing by Deputy Commissioner-West Asif Jameel Shaikh.

The DC informed him that the areas falling within the alignment include Muslimabad, Hassan Oleya, Silai Para and Multani Para. In these areas 1,406 units, including 311 leased ones, were required to be removed for the completion of the project, he added.

The CM directed Mr Shoro to move a summary for appointment of a project director of the Lyari Expressway Rehabilitation Project (LERP) so that necessary compensation could be paid to the affected people.

The visit began from under-constructed Tariq Road, where he directed the official concerned to expedite the work. “This is one of the important commercial centres of the city and it must be developed on a war footing basis,” he said.

He also inspected the widening and reconstruction work of Sharea Faisal and. He was told that a major portion of Sharea Faisa had been prepared for reconstruction.

He reached the University Road and witnessed the ongoing reconstruction work. He was displeased to see the slow pace of work on the same road from Karachi University to Safoora Chowrangi.

The contractor informed the CM that the K-Electric was not removing its electric pole, therefore the entire alignment work and construction of the drainage system was being delayed.

Mr Shah directed the LG minister to talk to the power utility officials so that the work would begin from Tuesday. “People of the area are facing hardships, have mercy on them and get this work done before schedule,” he said.

He went to Northern Bypass via Malir Cantt and Superhighway. On the way he moved to Surjani Town from where a road up to Madinatual Hikmat was being constructed.

The 9.8-kilometre-long project was launched with an estimated cost of Rs840.403 million and would be completed by June 2017. However, the CM expressed his displeasure over the slow pace of work and said that the road leading to Hamdard University and students, faculty and area people were facing hardship due to slow pace of work. “I would again visit this road and want to see commendable progress during my next visit.”

He also visited Hub River Road to review the construction of the road from Sher Shah to Murshid Hospital. He was told that the project would be completed by June 2017 on which he directed the officials to complete it in the first week of May.

Later, the CM while driving through Sher Shah, Gulbai and Lyari Expressway turned to Gharibabad intersection to visit the Orange Line bus rapid transit project. In Orangi Town, the CM was briefed by the transport minister on the progress of the project.

He said that the project was being executed with a cost of Rs643.35 million. He said that the progress of the work is 25 per cent. On this the CM expressed his dismay and said its progress should have been 75pc as was agreed.

He directed minister Shah to personally monitor the progress, otherwise it would not be completed on time.

The CM asked the ministers and Karachi mayor to keep visiting the ongoing projects so that they could be completed on time.

Published in Dawn January 30th, 2017