KARACHI, Aug 8: The 56-km long Karachi Northern Bypass project would be completed by October, 2004, at a cost of Rs2.2 billion.

This was stated by Federal Communication Minister Senator Ahmed Ali during a visit to the project at the Mauripur Road on Friday.

He said that the cost of the project comes to about Rs37 million per kilometre, which he termed very reasonable.

The minister pointed out that the project had been taken up to relieve the metropolis of its traffic burden.

He said that Lyari Expressway would help ease the flow of the light traffic, while Northern Bypass would cater to the needs of heavy traffic, particularly moving to and from the Karachi Port.

Informing about the significance of the project, he said the bypass would be connected to the RCD Highway, which would be further linked with the Coastal Highway, that would also link Peshawar with Gwadar.

Replying to a question, he said the suggestion regarding additional funds for the project was aimed at constructing four-lane highway instead of the two-lane.

“It makes sense, and if there is no constraint of funds on the part of the government, I will favour this idea”, the minister added.

He said that by the year 2005 a network of roads would be spread in the country, adding that the remaining 400-kilometre portion of the Indus Highway would also be completed during the period.

Expressing hope that Gwadar port would be completed before its scheduled time, he said the prime minister would soon convene a meeting in this regard.

Earlier, Project Director, Tufail Ahmed, Managing Director of the Engineering Construction International, Arif S Zia, and Col Abdul Waheed of the National Logistics Cell, briefed the minister.—APP