KARACHI, July 19: Work on repair of ICI, Mochko and Shershah bridges has started and will be completed soon.

This was stated by Acting Nazim Tariq Hasan Khan during a detailed visit to these bridges on Thursday.

Tariq Hasan observed that since these bridges are an important communication link of the city, their repair work has been taken up on priority basis.

During the visit, the acting Nazim was briefed about affected portions of these bridges with the help of maps, charts and pictures.

About ICI bridge, it was pointed out that it links the port with city and is used by heavy trucks and trailers. In view of its importance, a detailed meeting will also be held with the KPT and its affected portions will be repaired on priority basis.

During his visit to Mochko bridge, the Naib Nazim took notice of defective construction work and directed that the concerned firm be issued notice for legal action. This bridge was constructed in 1993 and repair of its affected portions has started.

Similarly, repair work of affected parts of Shershah bridge has also been started.

The Acting Nazim directed all the concerned towns that all dumps of garbage and waste material underneath these bridges be cleared, and illegal occupants removed and dens of addicts be busted.

Similarly at the Malir river, the bridges department has decided to erect reinforced new jersey barriers instead of repairing the broken railings and plan is under way to construct central island over it to discourage overtaking.

Tariq Hasan was informed that Sohrab Goth bridge is beyond the jurisdiction of City Government and lies under the NHA.

He was informed that there is no centralised data containing details and history of bridges in Karachi, since some of them were built by defunct KDA other by defunct KMC and none has kept updated record of bridges.

Tariq Hasan directed all the Town Nazims to prepare a report within a month containing proper details, current condition and suggestions about bridges in their respective areas.

Naib Nazim also reviewed the pace of work of dredging at major storm-water drains in Karachi, including Pitcher nullah, Niazi nullah, Kalri nullah, Orangi nullah and the Gujjar nullah where no de-silting work has been done for years.

Drains are being cleaned to meet the threat from the up-coming monsoon season. These drains had been in a miserable condition due to years of neglect.

Though it was the duty of concerned DCs to initiate the desilting drive of all storm-water drains every year before the rainy season and the DMC to do the job but in absence of elected representatives for the last decade, none of the major drains were properly cleaned while smaller drains were levelled to the ground after being filled with garbage, debris and mud.

Naib Nazim was briefed that due to shortage of time and lack of adequate resources, the works and services department has chalked out a plan according to which towns will clean the inner drains and the department will clear the choking points of all major storm-water drains.

During the visit to Pitcher nullah which runs through Keamari, Saddar and Lyari towns, the Naib Nazim was informed that major bottlenecks had been removed at Jamila Pumping Station, Pathan mosque, Lunda market under the ICI bridge and in Moosa lane, Lyari town.

Regarding the Kalri nullah, the Naib Nazim was informed that this nullah covers the distance of 5,280 running feet and its worst effected areas are katchi abadis of Machar colony, while the meeting point of Niazi nullah and the Kalri nullah has been channelised.

The Naib Nazim was informed about the dredging work in Akber nullah in Saddar town, Orangi nullah in SITE town and Gujjar nullah in Liaquatabad and North Nazimabad towns.—APP/PPI