KARACHI: The Sindh government has allocated Rs10 billion in the provincial budget for infrastructure projects of Karachi including the construction of three flyovers and as many underpasses and upgrade/renovation of a couple of major roads.
This amount is part of the Rs50.3 billion budgetary allocation the provincial government made in the head of its Annual Development Programme (ADP) for Karachi division.
This time not a single rupee has been allocated for the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway project though a total of over Rs4 billion has been allocated for two transport projects – Orange Line and Red Line of the bus rapid transit system.
The allocation for the much-needed K-IV Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme is Rs6 billion, while Rs1 billion has been earmarked for the long-delayed Greater Karachi Sewerage Treatment Project (S-III).
In his budget speech in the provincial assembly, Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah said: “Karachi will be one of the focus areas of development for the next financial year”.
He said Rs10 billion had been allocated for 17 major infrastructure projects of Karachi in the budget 2016-17. Of the Rs10 billion, Rs3.4 billion has been earmarked for the construction of three flyovers and as many underpasses. The government will build flyovers at Shaheen Complex, Drigh Road and over the Superhighway at a cost of over Rs1.9 billion. A total of Rs1.5 billion has been allocated for the construction of underpasses at Regent Plaza on Sharea Faisal, at Star Gate near Karachi airport and at Submarine Chowrangi.
