Hyderabad-Khokhrapar via Mirpurkhas Road, Jamshoro – Sehwan road, Gharo-Keti Bunder Road and Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway projects reviewed
Karachi
Sindh and the federal government have agreed to strengthen coordination between the provincial government and the National Highway Authority (NHA) so that the ongoing road sector schemes in the province could be completed well in time.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Communication Asad Mahmood agreed in their meeting at CM House on Tuesday to strengthen the coordination with NHA.
The meeting was attended by provincial Minister Works Zia Abbas Shah, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, SMBR Baqaullah Unar, Secretary Works, Secretary Finance, federal secretary communication, member Sindh NHA, member Finance NHA and others.
The Chief Minister said that N-120 Hyderabad-Khokhrapar via Mirpurkhas Road was 220 km, of which 120 km section from Mirpurkhas to Khokhrapar via Umerkot was under execution by NHA. There were another two sections of the road, including 80 km from Mirpurkhas to Umerkot and 40 km from Umerkot to Khokhrapar. Out of the 80 km road from Mirpurkhas to Umerkot, 60 km has been widened/reconditioned, whereas the work on the remaining portion from Umerkot to Khokhrapar (Raja Rasti) of 20 km has not been started as yet.
The CM said that the recent heavy rains have damaged the road from Umerkot to Khokhrapar.
The federal minister assured the chief minister that the work would be accelerated and also directed NHA to repair the damaged portions.
The chief minister taking up the under-construction Jamshoro – Sehwan road issue said that it has a length of 130 km being executed by NHA. The work started in 2018-19. Though it was an asset of NHA yet his government has also contributed Rs.700 million in rehabilitation.
CM said that work on the road from Khanote to Manjhand has not been started as yet. He pointed out that during rains-2022, the newly built track came under water near Laki Shah Saddar, which required to be considered for its re-design or necessary modifications.
The federal Minister Asad Mahmood said that the work has been accelerated and there were some land acquisition issues that needed to be settled. At this, the CM directed the chief secretary to settle the land issues to complete the work.
NHA had started work on Gharo-Keti Bunder road in 2006 and then abandoned it in 2008
The 95km Gharo-Keti Bunder Road also came under discussion. The CM disclosed that the NHA had started work on the road in 2006 and then abandoned it in 2008. He added that out of 95 km, Triple Surface Treatment (TST) on 60 km has been made, whereas the remaining length of 35 km was abandoned.
Federal Minister Asad Mahmood asked the chairman NHA to get a detailed report on the work done so far and the reasons for leaving it incomplete. He assured the CM that the matter would be resolved at the earliest.
The Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway also came under discussion and the federal minister told the CM that work would be started shortly. (PR)
____________________
