Minister inspects Super Highway, orders inquiry

JAMSHORO: Federal communication minister Arbab Alamgir, accompanied by a special team, inspected Karachi-Hyderabad super highway and declaring its condition a very dilapidated ordered the chairman of National Highway authority to probe into substandard work, submit inquiry report and blacklist the concerned company.

In a detailed meeting with the officials of national highway authority at the district government secretariat Jamshoro, minister ordered immediate filling of craters developed between 135 and 137 kilometer from Karachi toll plaza and approved Rs.40 million for it.

Arbab Alamgir also declared the condition of Indus River Bridge at Hyderabad bypass as very dangerous and directed to replace the local extension joints of pillars with imported extension joints and observed that this bridge and two other bridges leading to Matiari were unable to bear heavy traffic load.

Resenting on allowing vehicles carrying the load in excess to the prescribed weight, the minister ordered action against such vehicles. He said the goods companies should be directed to abide by the rules.

Federal minister told that Rs.1.5 billion are being earned annually through auction of 26 toll plazas while at super highway alone Rs.450 million are collected annually through two toll plazas. He said 10-year period of motorway has expired but the work couldn’t be completed for lack of funds. It requires Rs.5 billion for which the World Bank would be approached, he added saying the work could be started in two months to convert the super highway into motorway if initially Rs.2 billion are available.

Minister further stated that 48 bridges were damaged in last year’s floods in Jacobabad, Sukkur, Jamshoro, Pano Aqil, Qambar and other areas of Sindh and funds are required to repair them.

MNA Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur suggested initiating work of motorway on Build-Operate-Transfer BOT basis if the government has no funds. He demanded four ambulances and a Hydrolic bulk cutter for super highway to use them in case of accidents.

NHA officials informed the meeting that local extension joints cost Rs.5000/- each and have the age of only six months while the Korean extension joints would cost Rs.50, 000/- and would last 25 years.(PPI)