KARACHI: The Sindh government on Monday decided to construct a bridge on Indus River to provide a direct link between Khairpur Nathan Shah and Kandiaro to improve traffic flow between the two major cities and the surrounding areas.
This was disclosed by Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah while presiding over the 34rth public private partnership (PPP) meeting here at the CM House.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Nasir Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Zia Abbas Shah, CM’s adviser on law Murtaza Wahab, special assistant Syed Qasim Naveed, MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio, chief secretary Mumtaz Shah, Prof Sarosh Lodhi, Sindh planning and development department chairman Hassan Naqvi, principal secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, Asif Brohi, secretary finance Asif Jahangir, local government secretary Najm Shah, PPP unit DG Khalid Shaikh and others.
The CM said the works and services department had worked out a detailed plan for the bridge.
“The project will significantly reduce travel distance from Khairpur Nathan Shah to Kandiaro,” the CM said and added the Larkana-Gambat bridge, located on the upstream [of the proposed bridge] at a distance of 181 km, would save 131km distance.
He added the Dadu-Moro bridge (downstream) was located at 122 km, therefore, it would save 72 km distance.
The meeting was told that the starting point of the bridge would be at Indus Highway near Khairpur Nathan Shah at Sita Village and the ending point on the National Highway (N5) would be at Kamal Dero in Kandiaro. The length of bridge and roads would be approximately 25 km, excluding approach roads from N5 and N55, respectively.
The bridge would be two kilometers and the link road on Khairpur N. Shah side would be 11.5 km, excluding the approach road from Khairpur NS to Sita Village. The link road on the Kandiaro side would be 11.50 km, excluding the approach road from N5 to Kamal Dero.
Exemption from sales tax
The PPP policy board unanimously approved exemption from Sindh sales tax for the project and it would be placed in the forthcoming cabinet meeting for discussion and decision.
The meeting was told that the debt of the project Sir Aga Khan Jhirk Mulla Katiar bridge constructed on River Indus had been completely paid off on Nov 30, 2020.
The PPP policy board unanimously approved issuance of letter of award/acceptance to Zahir Khan & Brothers being the preferred bidder with a highest evaluated bid price.
The Sindh government will receive Rs 9.75bn at the end of first year and remainder Rs10.8 billion at the end of fourth year of the project.
The meeting was told that the Dhabeji zone would enable the establishment of industries from local and international investors.
Representatives from the International Finance Corporation, HMCO BNR & TYPSA, being the advisers of the KWSB, presented the Karachi Hub Water Canal Project before the 34th meeting.
In addition to approving broad project parameters, the board decided that the project would have a concession term of 15 years. It was informed that this would be the first competitively procured water PPP in the country, and the first of many PPPs to follow in the water sector.
Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2021
