LARKANA, Dec 29: MNA Faryal Talpur performed the ground breaking ceremony of the approach roads for the under-construction bridge over the River Indus near Hatti village, 8km off here, on Monday.

She unveiled the plaque prior to a briefing about the four-phased project to be completed at a cost of Rs5.8 billion.

Briefing the MNA Chairman National Highway Authority Altaf Hussain Chaudhry said that under the plan, 56km approach roads would be constructed on both banks of the river. The construction of the bridge would reduce a 60-kilometre distance between Larkana and Khairpur, he said.

The bridge and the road network would not only boost economic activity but also cement cultural bondage, the NHA chairman said and added that so far 60 per cent construction work on the bridge had been completed.

Modern methodologies were being applied in constructing the bridge and roads, he said and hoped the project would be completed in the stipulated time, he said.