KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, inspecting progress on the 39.889 km Malir Expressway project, directed the relocation of K-Electric (KE) installations and removal of illegal encroachments after expressing dissatisfaction with delays affecting the expressway’s development.
During his site visit from Zero Point near Jam Sadiq Bridge to Kathore, Shah noted the delay caused by KE’s failure to move its installations, hampering the opening of the expressway’s initial segment.
The Chief Minister, accompanied by Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, DG PPP Unit Asad Zamin, Project Director Niaz Soomro, and Engineer Khalid Mansoor, commenced his inspection at Zero Point. Shah was displeased to see that completed spans intended for the traffic ramp were still on the ground, uninstalled on the pillars due to KE’s unrelocated overhead installations. He instructed the Deputy Commissioner to resolve the issue within a week, warning of action if further delays persisted, especially since KE had already been compensated for the relocation.
Driving along the expressway, Shah identified instances of land encroachment on either side of the route. Stopping at the site, he called in the Deputy Commissioner and SSP Korangi, demanding an explanation for the emergence of illegal structures. “I won’t allow encroachments on any government land,” he asserted, ordering the immediate demolition of unauthorized structures and demanding a report.
The Chief Minister further instructed the Project Director to ensure that the segment from Korangi Causeway to Shah Faisal Interchange would be ready by the end of November, aiming for an early December opening for public traffic.
Shah also inspected the construction progress from Shah Faisal to Quaidabad. While the expressway structure was largely complete, he was briefed on a delay at the Quaidabad interchange due to pending land acquisition issues. Shah assured that funds had been allocated for this purpose and urged swift payments to landowners to avoid further setbacks in opening Segment II.
Additionally, Shah examined the construction of toll plazas and triangular parks at the Shah Faisal Interchange and other points, instructing officials to landscape the areas with grass and trees for beautification. He directed the police department to prepare plans for police checkposts along the expressway to ensure its security.
The Malir Expressway, stretching from Zero Point to Kathore, is designed with six interchanges, three bridges, and five weigh stations, with completion targeted by the end of 2025.
