KARACHI, June 21: The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, on Tuesday laid foundation stones for two ambitious development projects, the Hassan Square flyover and a multi-storeyed complex, to be built at estimated costs of Rs700 million and Rs880 million respectively. Unfolding details of both the projects at a ceremony held at the Civic Centre, he said the flyover would be constructed at the intersection of the Sir Shah Suleman and main University roads in two phases.

The initial tenders for its phase-I construction, costing Rs175 million were opened recently and it would be completed in 12 months.

The nazim said that under its phase-I construction, a two-plus-two lane flyover would be built on Sir Shah Suleman Road while another two-plus-two lane flyover would be constructed on the main University Road in the second phase.

The length of the flyover would be 130 metres while its approaches would be spread over 500 metres, he said, adding that the flyover would have two-lane underpasses for two right turnings i.e. from Sir Shah Suleman Road to the University Road.

About the multi-storeyed complex being built adjacent to the Civic Centre, Mr Niamat said, it would house a model mosque, an auditorium, a hostel on the pattern of a five-star hotel for foreign delegates, and a parking lot with space for 1,370 vehicles.

The project would be completed in three years, he said. The model mosque in the complex would accommodate about 6,500 faithful at one time while its basement, with a capacity of 3,000, would be used by women for prayers.

About the proposed auditorium, it was told that it would have a seating capacity of over 5,000 people while its basement and ground floor would be reserved for car parking purpose. Over 1,300 cars would be able to park at one time.

He said the proposed auditorium would also have a library, a convention centre, a reading room, a taleem-i-balighan centre, a language centre, a cafeteria, and a separate lounge, exclusively for women.