KARACHI, Dec 28: The preservation and restoration of a city landmark will soon give Karachi another recreation spot and food street along its coast. The project revolves around the abandoned Native Jetty (Napier Mole) Bridge. The old Hindu temple beneath Native Jetty Bridge and all the old trees have been retained. Once open it is sure to be a popular spot. The manmade and natural monuments have been renovated and beautified along with the bridge. We are committed to preserve the nature and archeological assets located in the area, said the architect handling the project. A soft opening is expected in summer and the spot should be fully operational by the end of 2007.

The project is spread over eight-and-a-half acres. It includes 135,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space and an additional 172,000 square feet of landscaped parks, plazas and walkways and an 800 seat amphitheatre. It will comprise 100 restaurants, shops, vendor kiosks and carts, highlighted by a one-kilometer-long bridge that will be transformed into a new food resort with public spaces that take advantage of views of Karachi harbour and the surrounding mangroves.

In Jinnah Rotary Park, an amphitheatre, formal and informal restaurants and a major water feature will create a festive entertainment venue. Between the bridge and the park will be a grand plaza space that will serve as the main entrance and house the Grand Manor Building, reminiscent of an old trading post that will be both a signpost and a glowing beacon in the evening.

US-based architect Mustafa Kirwan is constructing the project for a private company, Port Grand. According to him, this is a major downtown waterfront restaurant and entertainment project that centers on the abandoned Native Jetty and incorporates the surrounding highway rotary and enclosed circular park. When completed, it will offer a unique venue to Karachi at par with waterfront “festival marketplace” developments in the developed world. The intent is to have great festival marketplaces similar to those created in waterfront locations in major cities around the world.

The one-billion-rupee plus project aims to create a mix of venues that caters to different crowds at different times of the day. “Originally, this project was conceived for the elite but then we made changes. Now it will offer different sorts of entertainment to all Karachiites,” said the US-based architect. The project, he said was based on three themes – the maritime theme at the bridge, marketplace and public square in the middle and garden structure and water feature around in the last. Besides, tour boats etc. would also be there for additional entertainment for those who love to watch the beautiful mangroves in the vicinity.

He said a phenomenon to develop seaports was global according to which many of the international port cities had realsed that their seaports were under utilised and now the different port authorities were bringing back their beauty with state-of-the-art waterfronts. The same situation prevailed in Karachi port. “People spend outside and there is not enough activity here. This project will beautify this under utilised area, create jobs and generate revenues,” Kirwan said.

The land and bridge has been acquired on rental bases from Karachi Port Trust. The project is on build-operate-transfer basis. The company will build and operate it for20 years and then transfer it to the KPT.