The Sindh government has approved the construction of a new corridor of Shahrah-e-Bhutto, connecting Karachi Port with Qayyumabad, as part of plans to improve road connectivity in Karachi.
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The approval was granted during a meeting of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
The proposed 16.5-kilometre expressway will have four lanes and extend from Karachi Port to Qayyumabad. According to a briefing presented to the board, the road will also connect with the East Wharf of Karachi Port.
Project to be developed under PPP model
The project will be carried out under a public-private partnership arrangement, with the contract covering a total period of 27.5 years.
The contract period will include 2.5 years for construction, according to the briefing.
The corridor is planned on a design, finance, construction, operation and transfer (DFBOT) basis. Under this model, the private partner is expected to be involved in designing and financing the project, carrying out construction and operating the facility before its transfer.
The meeting also discussed a proposal to introduce an “infrastructure right” in place of equity as part of the project’s financing structure.
KPT licence agreement and final NOC discussed
The PPP Policy Board also discussed matters related to the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) licence agreement and the issuance of the final no-objection certificate (NOC).
The proposed connection between Shahrah-e-Bhutto and Karachi Port’s East Wharf is expected to provide a direct road link between the port area and Qayyumabad.
Further details about the project’s construction schedule, financing arrangements and final approvals were not provided in the briefing.
Riverbank protection and Memon Goth interchange works approved
In addition to the corridor, the board approved works aimed at protecting riverbanks along the Shahrah-e-Bhutto expressway.
The meeting also approved the construction of a protective embankment, an additional loop and a ramp at the Memon Goth Interchange.
The installation of streetlights at the interchange was also approved.
The decisions form part of the broader project plan for Shahrah-e-Bhutto, which is intended to improve road infrastructure and connectivity in Karachi.
