CM Sindh forms experts’ body for alignment of bridge on River Indus

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that the construction of a bridge on River Indus to connect Ghotki with Kandhkot districts is necessary to cater to the growing vehicular traffic, but the selection of the location must be accurate so that natural flow of the river is not affected.

The chief minister, while presiding over a meeting on the proposed bridge, was told that the alignment of has been selected between Ghotki and Kandhkot which would have two-lane 12.5 km approach road on Ghotki side and two-lane 15.2 km road on Kandhkot side.

There would also be 4.5 km link road to connect with Thul road and flyover would be constructed on N-55 highway. The project would be constructed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis and the cost would be 70pct loan, 16pct by private partners and 14pct would be given by the Sindh government.

The irrigation department informed CM Sindh that riverine area survey and physical hydraulic model at Nadipur was also seen by officials of the department, PPP unit, works department, technical advisers and designers.

CM Sindh was told that accumulation of water was observed near Ghotki side during model study, and after discussion with the officials of Nadipur and irrigation department, it was partly agreed to shift the bridge by two kilometers towards Ghotki on the same axis but no located was selected. The alignment has been proposed 14 kilometers upstream of Qadirpur.

The chief minister said the project has been discussed since last two years but the issue of alignment has always been a bone of contention among the stakeholders, and therefore, being a professional engineer he cannot approve the project straight away.

He directed principal secretary Sajid Jamal Abro to talk to the vice-chancellors of NED and Sindh University and request to constitute a joint team of experts to study the course of River Indus downstream Gudu Barrage and till Sukkur Barrage for construction and alignment of the bridge.

He also directed the irrigation and works departments to include their experts in the team and provide necessary assistance to them.