KARACHI, Dec 15: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan said on Saturday that no decision had been taken to suspend the local government system before the January 8 general election.

“Yes, there is a proposal (to suspend the local governments) but so far no decision has been taken,” he said while talking to reporters after inaugurating the Sohrab Goth Interchange.

The suspension of the LG system is a persistent demand of the opposition parties, particularly the Pakistan People’s Party, which feels that the elected nazims are in a position to influence the forthcoming elections in their respective localities by utilising government resources and police. He, however, parried more questions on the issue.

Earlier, the governor inaugurated a family park in Korangi, which is spread over 15 acres and has cost of Rs30 million.

The governor was accompanied by City Nazim Mustafa Kamal and Karachi District Coordination Officer Javed Hanif.

Referring to the Sohrab Goth Interchange, he congratulated the city government for completing the project within stipulated time and said the project was another gift to the people of the metropolis.

He said Sohrab Goth was one of the biggest choking points of the city, where traffic jams had become a daily routine. However, with the completion of this project the exit and entry points of the city had become signal-free while the entrance to the city had also been made beautiful and this would also improve the traffic flow inside the city, he added.

He said the city government had completed the project despite several hurdles, including delay in the release of funds on time.

Earlier, the governor unveiled the plaque of the Sohrab Goth flyover at a simple ceremony.

He was briefed that the work to build the interchange was started in 2005 and completed in two years at a total cost of Rs579 million.

The interchange comprises two four-lane bridges, one underpass, three loops, four left turns and two U-turns. The stormwater drainage has also been installed.

He was informed that the estimated volume of traffic at the Sohrab Goth interchange was 200,000 vehicles per day. The main bridge is 95 metres long with 14.4 metres breadth on the F. B Area side and 15.4 metres on the Sohrab Goth side.