The timely completion of the strategic Malir River Bridge is at risk due to delays in utility relocation by K-Electric and an on-site shortage of essential construction materials, prompting direct intervention from Sindh’s chief minister.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has now mandated a new completion deadline of May 2026 for the Rs 3 billion infrastructure scheme, revising an earlier target of June 2026 and stressing the project’s importance for the public interest, according to information today.

The directives followed a site inspection by a Planning and Development (Pand D) Department monitoring team at the N-5 (Murghikhana) location. Led by senior engineers, the team conducted a detailed review of the construction, which included non-destructive quality tests on the concrete and verification of structural dimensions against design specifications.

Officials, including Chairman Pand D Najam Shah, briefed the chief minister that the project has achieved 65 per cent physical completion, with financial expenditure at 61.6 per cent. The monitoring team assessed the current pace of work as satisfactory.

However, the evaluation team identified significant obstacles. They advised the executing agency to formally address K-Electric”s delays in shifting utilities, which are directly impacting the completion timeline. The team also noted a lack of stockpiled gravel and aggregate base for crucial ramp construction.

In response, Chief Minister Shah ordered that the issue with K-Electric be expedited and instructed officials to ensure an immediate and sufficient stockpile of the required construction materials. He reiterated that the timely availability of supplies is essential for the bridge”s early opening, with no compromise on quality standards.

The provincial government considers the Malir River bridge a key connectivity scheme vital for improving traffic flow for commuters in the metropolis and is closely supervising its execution.