Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presiding over a meeting to review the overhauling of damaged roads by heavy rains and floods approved Rs66 billion for the reconstruction of 8620 km of provincial roads with the support of donor agencies. The meeting which was held at CM House was attended by Minister Works Zia Abbas Shah, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, Secretary Works Shariq Ahmed, and others concerned. The CM in his opening remarks said that due to heavy rains during the month of July and August 2022, Sindh has faced an unprecedented situation as the infrastructure has been badly affected.
He added that most of the roads and associated infrastructure have been damaged and the remaining roads were in severely dilapidated condition which required emergent repair and rehabilitation to enable connectivity of inter and intra districts road network. Survey& Assessment of damages:
The CM was told that the Works & Services Department has so far carried out a district-wise survey of damages caused to the roads and other infrastructure and prepared a district-wise assessment. In the Roads Sector 801 schemes, under the purview of the Provincial government, have been affected having a length of 8620 Km. Funds required for the rehabilitation of the road infrastructure is Rs. 94121.578 million (US$427.825 Million).
Chief Secretary told the CM that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also appointed a consultant to verify the assessment data of damages. The chief minister approved Rs66 billion to reconstruct 8620 km of roads and directed the P&D and works departments to ensure the quality of the roads, and construct conduits, bridges, and siphons where the passage to rain/sewerage water was required to be given.
Mr. Shah said that now we have to construct climate-change-resilient long-life roads, therefore construction and the material should be used accordingly. Small Roads: Murad Ali Shah also directed Chairman P&D to work out the small up to 3 km damaged roads connecting one village to the other to the city or within the city so that work on them could be started.
