KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday inaugurated a Rs219 million bridge in the Hawkesbay area and promised to regain what he called the lost glory of the metropolis.

The Younisabad bridge at Hawkesbay Y-Junction connects the city with Manora.

The event was attended by Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Commander Karachi Rear Admiral Farrukh Ahmed and others.

Mr Shah said the bridge was originally constructed in 1982 and since then its condition had deteriorated. “We have constructed the two-lane and 378-metre-long bridge in addition to 2.14 kilometres approach roads from both sides, Y-Junction and Manora.”

He said the people of the neighbourhood had asked him to repair the road from Gulbai to Younisabad bridge. He said he asked the LG minister and the mayor to plan the scheme and get the work started.

Mr Shah said he had seen the condition of the jetty leading to Baba and Bhit islands.

“Its condition is quite precarious. The KPT had begun its construction but the work was suspended,” he said, adding that the deputy commissioner (West) had informed him there were certain issues with the contractor which had been settled. He said he had directed the chief secretary to consult with the KPT authorities and get the work of the jetty completed at the earliest.

Discussing about the condition of the Shamspir jetty, he said it was constructed in 1992 and now its condition was poor as well.

He asked the mayor to begin its construction at the earliest, for which the provincial government would provide necessary funds to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

He said he was working hard to make Karachi free of crime and encroachments.

Speaking about the Rs10 billion Karachi package, he said initially it contained 21 schemes but two of them were found to be unfeasible, thus, 19 schemes were in hand.

He said work on widening and reconstruction of Sharea Faisal had begun and it would change the city’s face. “We are going to start a scheme to uplift the road connecting Jinnah Terminal.”

He also spoke about the recent rains and said that he and the mayor had visited the city and saw the rainwater draining out smoothly.

Published in Dawn January 24th, 2017