Zardari approves mega projects for Sindh

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari approved several mega projects for Karachi and other areas of Sindh on Monday, including the mass transit and circular railway plans for the provincial capital and highways, irrigation and drainage schemes.

Briefing journalists after a meeting presided over by the president, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto transit CNG bus project for Karachi had been approved and only women would have the ownership right. Under the scheme, 500 environment-friendly CNG buses will be introduced and 50 per cent of the seats will be reserved for women.

The Karachi nazim will launch and oversee the project and the federal government will provide a subsidy of Rs700,000 per bus. The number of buses will be increased to 4,000 by 2012.

The federal government will provide sovereign guarantee for the Karachi mass transit project which will be built on a build, operate and own basis. International bids will be invited soon.

The Karachi circular railway will be revived at a cost of $1.6 billion with international help. The president said a resettlement plan should be prepared immediately for people living along the route.

The president approved the financing of the Lyari Expressway and asked the governor and chief minister to ensure settlement of people displaced by the project.

President Zardari also approved a rapid (bus) transit system (Bagota model) for Karachi. Three corridors will initially be developed for the plan —Nagan Chowrangi to Cantt Station, Saforan Goth to Numaish Chowrangi and Orangi to Board Office Chowrangi.

The president ordered construction of Karachi-Hyderabad motorway on international standards. It was decided that work on Larkana-Khairpur bridge would be accelerated.

The meeting directed the National Highway Authority to complete work on a priority basis on the Sukkur-Shikarpur-Jacobabad expressway and Ratodero-Sehwan additional carriageway. The Karachi sewerage scheme was also approved.

The president said the Thar coal project should be expedited and development of infrastructure must get the highest priority. Regarding the realignment of Right Bank Outfall Drain-III, the president said consultants should be assigned to propose required changes.

He said a meeting of public representatives of Sindh and Balochistan should be held to resolve outstanding issues. He said a scheme should be prepared for improvement of Phuleli canal in Badin.

The meeting was informed that that the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual carriageway project would be ready for approval soon. The president stressed the need for improvement of the canal system and lining of distributaries and minors to ensure water conservation, supply to tail-enders and equitable distribution of water.

The meeting asked the Water and Power Development Authority to submit proposals to resolve the issues of the Left Bank Outfall Drain and tidal link affecting the people of Badin and Thatta. The president said the Sindh government should prepare projects for drip and sprinkler irrigation to help poor farmers.

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