KARACHI, Sept 12: The city government will construct five overhead bridges on Sharea Faisal to facilitate pedestrians crossing the busy thoroughfare in a safe way. The city government has signed agreements with four companies on built, operate and transfer (BOT) basis for the construction of these bridges near Lal Kothi, FTC building, Baloch Colony, Duty Free Shops and Shah Faisal Flyover.

A high-level meeting, presided over by EDO Transport Malik Zaheerul Islam here on Monday, reviewed the obstacles hindering development work of this project. The officials of traffic police, KESC, horticulture department, transport department, contractors and consultants were also present on the occasion.

The designs of these bridges were approved at the meeting. It was decided that trees would be shifted to other places soon. KESC representatives assured that underground cables at the sites of these bridges would be shifted to other places.

The meeting was informed that the work on pedestrian bridge near Baloch Colony would be completed within the next two months. Mr Zaheer underlined the need for expediting work on these bridges and said that show-cause notices would be issued to contracting companies over the slow pace of work. He advised contractors not to throw construction material on Sharea Faisal.

The meeting also reviewed the mass action plan for the construction of pedestrian bridges over University Road at Expo Centre and Baitul Mukarram Masjid. —APP