KUALA LUMPUR, April 10: The feasibility study and engineering design of the 24km elevated expressway from Jinnah Bridge to Quaidabad will be completed by July 2006, one month ahead of schedule.

Karachi Nazim Mustafa Kamal was informed about it during his talks with Dato Krishnan Tan, the CEO of Malaysian IJM Corporation Berhad.

Mr Tan told the nazim that this would facilitate ground breaking of US$225 million mega project in August. He said that setting up of joint task force would definitely assist in achieving completion of elevated expressway in three years.

IJM is setting up an office in Karachi, headed by a country director with his technical team, to start ground survey work and traffic studies along this corridor within a week.

The expressway will have three lanes on each side. On completion, IJM will collect toll tax for a period of 15 years. It will serve as Southern Bypass and a link to airport for the two seaports of Karachi.

IJM indicated that it was interested in making investment in infrastructure development and other mega projects in Karachi in view of opportunities and facilities available.—PPI