Govt to initiate mega-projects under ‘Karachi Transformation Plan’

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is expected to unveil projects worth Rs802.39 billion under the ‘Karachi Transformation Plan’ which will be announced during the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The prime minister was expected to arrive on Friday but the visit has been delayed by a day. The federal and provincial governments will collaborate on the projects for the city, which has been devastated by the recent monsoon rainfall.

The details of the projects are as follows :

Water Supply :

It was announced that the government has spent Rs11.30 Billion on Phase-I of K-IV project, however, Rs46.30 Billion more were required for its completion. The total cost of the project is Rs60 Billion.

Another scheme of 30 MGD water supply for the District South costing Rs7 Billion and the upgradation of the KWSB Hub water supply system for Rs6 Billion.

“30 water supply schemes being launched under the annual development plans (ADP) programme for Rs17.50 Billion against which Rs3.1 Billion have already been utilized and remaining Rs13.30 Billion are yet to be released,” Shah said.

Sewerage Treatment and Disposal

Projects worth Rs163.60 billion have been proposed in order to solve Karachi’s issues regarding sewerage treatment and disposal.

 The Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan (S-III), including treatment of TP-1 and TP-III for 150-300 MGD, costing Rs36.2 million is under construction on which Rs10.70 million have been spent so far.

Infrastructure and services components, including parks, internal roads, and sewerage will cost Rs18.30 billion and will be financed by the World Bank (WB) through the CLICK project.

Five Combined Effluent Treatment Plants for Industrial areas of Karachi will cost Rs11.8 billion and this cost will be shared between the WB and the Government of Sindh in which the provincial government would share 33 percent of the cost.

According to the document, several projects have been announced under this category and they are mostly shared between the Asian Development Bank (ADP), World Bank, and the Government of Sindh. The required funding to finance these projects is Rs141.20 Billion.

Storm Water Drains and Resettlement of Roads

Projects worth Rs4.30 Billion have been proposed for the cleaning of stormwater drains and the resettlement of roads.

The Solid Waste Emergency and Efficiency Program (SWEEP) for the cleaning of water from sewerage and stormwater drains and dewatering facility will cost Rs1.7 billion.

A further ten schemes of stormwater drains and nullahs cost Rs3 billion under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) have been approved.

Roads

Four projects worth Rs63.30 billion were announced which will be financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank. and Public-Private Partnership(PPP).

This includes the Malir Expressway which costs Rs27 billion and will be completed in three years. The Link Road from M9 to N5 motorway which is under process will cost Rs 6.5 billion and will be completed in three years.

Also included are the construction of two roads in Malir and Korangi at a cost of Rs2.90 billion which will be completed in one year. Furthermore, 83 schemes of internal roads will cost Rs25.90 billion and will be completed in three years jointly financed by ADP.

Mass Transit System

Six projects worth Rs447.43 Billion of developing a mass transit system in the city have been proposed

The projects includes the restoration Karachi Circular Railway(KCR) which will cost Rs300 Billion and the construction of boundary fencing of the KCR project along with the existing alignment of the project will cost Rs23 million.

The construction of underpasses and flyovers on railway crossing along the KCR route will cost up to Rs5 billion.

Other projects include the BRT Orange Line (4.76 km) which will cost Rs2.36 billion, the BRT Red Line (26.6 km) which will be completed at a cost of Rs78 billion, and the BRT Yellow Line (21 km) will cost Rs61.44 billion.

Solid Waste Management

Four Projects of solid waste management worth Rs14.86 Billion were also proposed. These projects will be funded by the ADB and the WB and will be led by the Government of Sindh.

The SWEEP project includes three garbage transfer stations (GTS) and two landfill sites. The project cost Rs10.60 billion and will be completed within five years.

Another project including solid waste management will cost Rs1.4 billion, while establishment of six GTS costing Rs1.66 billion. The fourth project for the development of two existing landfill sites cost Rs1.2 billion.