KARACHI, Sept 18: The Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has initiated one of the largest undertakings in its history by starting work on the infrastructure development of DHA, Phase-VIII.

The infrastructure development is spread over an area of 4,100 acres and includes all areas east of Khayaban-i-Ittehad, which constitute approximately half the size of the entire DHA.

The project encompasses entire re-planning of the DHA Phase-VIII including construction of roads, laying of water supply, sewerage and drainage system, all on international standards. The project costing Rs7.5 billion will be completed within three to four years.

The major parts of the infrastructure uplift works consist of laying the road network, which has been planned on international AASHTO roadway classification system. It includes construction of 20- priority primary arterial, minor arterial and collateral road network. The project would cost Rs2.6 billion and is being undertaken by the NLC.

In this regard a groundbreaking ceremony of the roadway work was held on the site of 26th Street and Beach Avenue intersection in DHA Phase-VIII. Brig (retd.) Javed Ashraf was the chief guest on the occasion.

He urged the NLC to ensure quality of the work in accordance with the stringent engineering standards, speedy execution of the project and the need of constantly maintaining quality control through consultant management.

The NLC project director said that the NLC would ensure successful and speedy execution of the project. Col (retd) Syed Sajjad Zahoor, director of Phase-VIII project gave a detailed briefing regarding the salient features of the project.—PPI