KARACHI, Aug 1: Over 400 families have been shifted from Lasbela-Tin Hatti Bridge portion for continuation of the ongoing work on Lyari Expressway.

They were paid Rs20 million for shifting to the plots allotted to them in various housing development schemes.

According to the latest report of expenditure submitted to the government by the project director, a total of 3,780 families had been relocated so far, who were paid Rs189 million for arranging infrastructure for their residence in the Hawksbay Housing Scheme.

The report pointed out that for arranging extra facilities to the affectees of the Lyari Expressway, a presentation was made before the Governor State Bank of Pakistan, who had arranged facilitation of building loans from the scheduled commercial banks. Negotiations were also held with the Sui Southern Gas Company for providing gas distribution system for Hawksbay and Taiser Town schemes, the report added.

It also indicated that Rs195.075 million were paid to KESC for power supply, Rs64.468 million were paid to contractors and Rs2.4 million to Pakistan Rangers for construction of community water tanks.

In the Scheme No-42, development work was being pursued in accordance to the directives of the government, where besides construction of roads, electrification and gas supply lines had been laid and work in some more sectors had also been undertaken.

The report pointed out that in sectors 9 and 10, survey and demarcation work had been completed. In addition, 150ft wide link road was carpeted, the primary and secondary school buildings were in advance stage of completion, while 32 community water tanks were already made functional.

These sectors of the housing schemes were being developed for resettlement of the affectees of the Lyari Expressway project in which the share of the city government would be Rs235 million.

The government has released an amount of Rs390 million so far against the total expenditure of Rs623.147 million. As such, the request for the remaining amount of Rs213.147 million had been forwarded for early release to ensure that uninterrupted development could continue.

The report further indicated that installation of gas supply system for sectors 9 and 10 of the Hawksbay Scheme was also in progress.

According to the report, trees were being planted in the colony, construction of storm water drains were in advance stage of completion and installation of water supply and sewerage systems was also going on with a satisfactory speed. Four sub- stations had been handed over to the KESC for necessary installation and energizing the locality.

Under Scheme No-29 of Baldia Township, topographic survey had been completed and the finalized layout plan had been handed over to the chief engineer of KESC to mark location of the sub- station, added the report.

Likewise, in sectors 35 and 36 of Taiser Town under Scheme No-45, survey and demarcation had been completed while construction of 150ft wide road and installation of internal water supply work were also in progress, it added.

Moreover, the construction of internal roads in sub-sector 35-A was in progress, an external sewerage system was being installed in sectors 35 and 36 while work on installation of two KESC sub-stations had been completed, the report pointed out.