National Highway Authority has delayed a lot and the work could not be completed within the stipulated time – Sindh Chief Secretary
From Correspondent
Hyderabad, Sindh
It transpired during a meeting here on Thursday April 18 that 115 people died and 317 were injured in 98 road accident since 2019 at Indus Highway.
Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah had convened a meeting at Shahbaz Hall to review the construction of the dual carriageway road from Jamshoro to Sehwan and the obstacles and tragic accidents happening on the road.
Speaking in the meeting, Chief Secretary said that the National Highway Authority (NHA) has delayed a lot in the construction of this road and the work could not be completed within the stipulated time. Expressing regret, he said that precious lives are being lost due to non-completion of the road.
Chief Secretary said that he was told that 115 people died and 317 were injured from 2019 till now, which is very sad.
In their briefing, NHA officials said that the dual carriageway will be completed by June 2024.
Deputy Inspector General Motorway Muhammad Saleem said that there are ten dangerous sharp turns in the Indus Highway, which cause ninety percent of accidents.
Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah said that water flows should be taken care in the view of climate changes, culverts should be constructed in the carriageway and road should be constructed considering the rains of 2022.
Motorway police was directed to increase the number of patrolling police and establish a control room.
Secretary Local Government, Secretary Works and Services and other officials participated in the meeting.
Meanwhile, another meeting discussed the development work carried out in Hyderabad. Mayor Hyderabad Kashif Shoro briefed about the construction of Abdul Sattar Eidhi road and Autobhan road and said encroachment and high transmission line of HESCO is the big hindrance in the construction of roads. Chief Secretary directed the commissioner Hyderabad Ahsan Qureshi to make it convenient to remove those obstacles.
Read: Ill-Planned Amri Bridge over Indus River caused floods in 2022
Yet another meeting about restoration and beautification of shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was held. Chief Secretary Syed Asif Haider Shah said that pilgrims face a lot of difficulty in reaching the shrine during the annual fair. He directed to widen the roads and streets leading to the Dargah, remove the encroachment and restore the beauty of city. For this, the road leading from Bypass to Shrine should be widened and footpaths should be constructed. He said that parking of vehicles, renovation of bus stand and drainage schemes should be restored.
Chief Secretary said that the road from shrine to the fort should also be constructed. He gave strict instructions to the officials of the Auqaf Department and directed them to ensure arrangements for the pilgrims to visit the shrine.
Chief Secretary Sindh instructed Chairman Sehwan Municipal Committee to focus on tax collection in Sehwan.
SSP Jamshoro Tariq Ali told that a large number of pilgrims come during the fair, but the entry and exit points of the shrine are narrow and congested, which causes security problem. He suggested reconstruction of roads and streets, besides a new building of police station should also be constructed near the shrine.
Read: Plans to build a new bridge on Indus River between Hyderabad and Jamshoro
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