LARKANA, Dec 12: The pace of development work at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto has been accelerated to complete the first phase before the death anniversary of Ms Benazir Bhutto falling on the 27th day of this month.

It is a three-phased project and scheduled to finish by June 2010 worth Rs746 million, said Executive Engineer, Building Department, Shabir Pahyar, on Friday.

Talking to Dawn in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto, he said that some six acres of land opposite the mausoleum and close to the main stage would be raised with pavestones in a couple of days.

Hundreds of labourers had been engaged to accomplish task in the stipulated time, said General Secretary, PPP, Larkana, Anwar Bhutto.

“We are looking after the development work which includes provision of electricity, parking areas and fail-safe security arrangements on the day,” he said. More than 600 acres near the ring road would be used for parking purpose, he said.

A shuttle service comprising 40 coaches will ferry people to main venue as no other vehicle would be allowed inside, he said.

The main stage used in the past for addressing public gathering would be relocated keeping in view the security arrangements, sources said. Almost all concerned departments were busy finalising the arrangement.

The project includes 30 shops, two hotels and a musafirkhana on 28 acres for those paying homage to Bhuttos. Bhutto Mazar Committee in consultation with the agencies was supervising the on-going development work.

Extraordinary security with the deployment of 5,000 policemen and a back-up support of Rangers would be ensured. Activists of Sindh Peoples Students Federation would assist police and women PPP workers women police, said district information secretary, PPP Larkana, Asghar Shaikh.

Police had planned to use Madeji, Ratodero, Shikarpur and Larkana roads as one way routes to avoid traffic jam, said Anwar Bhutto.

The first phase of development work would be completed at a cost of Rs90 million said, Director Shabir Pahyar.

The Superintendent Engineer Hesco Munwar Nazeer Abbasi would ensure power supply in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto. ‘We would keep alternate power supply source ready on the day to make the event a success, said Anwar Bhutto.

Accident: Over 20 passengers were injured as a bus overturned near Mettla village, some eight kilometres away from here, on Friday.

The bus heading towards Naudero encountered the incident after its tie-rod gave away with the driver losing the control on steering.

The injured, including Ms Hazooran, Ms Shahmeeran, Shahrbano, Safooran and Sohrab were taken to the Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana, where they were admitted.