KARACHI, Jan 3: The city government has initiated work on the reconstruction of the Five-Star Chowrangi, North Nazimabad, at a cost of Rs15 million.

A formal foundationstone-laying ceremony of the project was performed by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Friday. A large number of Town Nazims, elected representatives and officials were present on the occasion.

The reconstruction of this roundabout with the installation of signals is scheduled to be completed on March 29.

Speaking on the occasion, the Nazim said that traffic was a big problem of this city and it had been addressed after the establishment of the city government and new schemes were launched with speed.

He said the widening of chowrangis, construction and repair of roads and installation of signals was part of this scheme.

He observed that in the past attention was not paid to roads and roundabouts with the speed the traffic grew nor the transport issue was given due importance.

However, he said, the district government had given a policy under urban transport scheme and this issue would see resolution in the next few years.

Naimatullah Khan said the city government had started two-pronged work — widening of roads, reconstruction of chowrangis, installation of signals and construction of bridges, on the one hand, and, on the other, preference was being given to the CNG buses over small coaches and this would bring great improvement to traffic.

The Nazim said that so far the city government had modernized five roundabouts where now signals were being installed. These include Nagan, Banaras, Numaish, Guru Mandir and 5-Star chowrangis. He said this would help reduce the number of traffic accidents.

He said the work executed by the city government during the 16 months became possible because of prayers by the people.

The Nazim of the North Nazimabad Town, Fasihuddin Siddiqi, Naib Nazim Maqsood Khan and the Nazim of Liaquatabad Town, Dr Pervez Mahmood, were also present.—APP