The Sindh cabinet, in its meeting on Tuesday, has formed a committee to investigate the Rs 315 million compensation claim filed in court by 53 people affected by the Lyari Expressway project.
During the meeting at the Chief Minister House, the cabinet maintained its stance that the Lyari Expressway was a federal government project.
However, the provincial government acknowledged that compensation in some form could be paid if the claimants’ demands are proven to be correct and legitimate.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has established a committee headed by Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah to review the matter. According to the CM’s spokesperson Abdul Rasheed Channa, the committee will submit a detailed report to the cabinet for a final decision.
In another significant development, the cabinet decided to expedite the completion of six projects of the Local Government Department, worth Rs 19,116 million, to upgrade the city’s road network.
These infrastructure schemes include a new road from the M-9 Motorway to Malir via Jinnah Avenue and Sharea Faisal, and a right-turn underpass connecting the Printing Press near Malir Halt to Sharea Faisal.
Additionally, approval was given for a flyover on Sharea Faisal from Airport Road to Star Gate, a flyover at Sohrab Goth, and the rehabilitation of the road from Y-Junction to Machli Chowk.
The final road project approved involves the construction of a major thoroughfare from Main Korangi Road to Khayaban-e-Saadi via Khaleequzzaman, Khayaban-e-Iqbal, Bath Island, Khayaban-e-Jami, and Nehr-e-Khayyam.
Chief Minister Shah directed the Local Government Department to start construction immediately, stating that these roads “will improve traffic flow in the city.”
Furthermore, the cabinet approved awarding the 36-kilometer-long Damloti to DHA water pipeline project to the Frontier Works Organization (FWO).
The Sindh government is providing funds of Rs 10.55 billion to the Water Board for this scheme, under which the FWO will lay a water supply line from the Damloti pumping station to DHA.
The cabinet also approved the appointment of seven non-official members to the Board of Governors of law colleges.