KARACHI: Caretaker Chief Minister Sindh Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar directed Works and Service Department to resume suspended work on Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge within week and instructed law enforcement agencies to provide security to crew working there.

 Presiding over meeting of Works Service Department to review progress of ongoing uplift schemes here at CM House. Chief Secretary Dr. Fakhre Alam, Chairman P&D Shakil Maqnejo, PSCM Agha Wasif, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi and Secretary Works Nawaz Sohoo attended.

 Secretary Works told CM that Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge project has been launched on PPP mode for Rs 33,995 million. It would have four-lane Bridge over River Indus. Project length is 25 km and 1.2 km bridge length. He said that it was started from both sides, Ghotki-Kandhkot but due to kidnapping of two employees of project work was suspended in June 2023.

 CM was told that 18.7 km approach roads to bridge have been completed. Construction of Thull Link Road connecting N-55 to Thull Road has also been completed by 95 percent and now work has been suspended temporarily due to law and order problems.

 CM expressing his displeasure on stoppage of work said that it would not only escalate cost of project but cause inconvenience for people of area and on top of it project would lose its purpose of initiating.

Caretaker CM was informed that handing over of land for construction of administration building, Toll Plaza, Toll Collecting Staff room and Weigh Bridge still awaited from DC Ghotki due to delayed disbursement of compensation landowners were obstructing ongoing site activities.

 Chief Secretary to talk to senior Member of Board of Revenue to ensure compensation for land acquisition and start work, caretaker CM added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 13 2023

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