Murad forms ministerial team to finish Hyderabad flyover by first week of July

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed officials to complete the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Flyover project in Hyderabad by the first week of July, and constituted a ministerial team to ensure the work is finished within the deadline.

Chairing a meeting at the Chief Minister House on Tuesday, Murad Ali Shah said he planned to visit Hyderabad in July and inaugurate the flyover for public use himself. “In July, I will visit Hyderabad and drive over the bridge to open it for general traffic. Therefore, the ministers of the three departments — Nasir Shah, Jam Khan Shoro and Haji Ali Hassan — will work together to ensure the timely completion of the flyover,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Planning and Development Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Works and Services Minister Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Planning and Development Chairman Najam Shah, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Agha Wasif, and Local Government Secretary Waseem Shamshad.

Project delays discussed

During the briefing, the chief minister was told that the land acquisition process had been completed and possession had been handed over to the project authorities at the end of 2018. However, the remaining construction work could not move forward because of litigation and other issues.

The project began in 2018 and remained stalled due to court-related matters and other complications. It was originally included in a federally funded road scheme linking Hyderabad Bypass with Ghangra Mori on the left bank of Akram Wah.

Officials informed the meeting that the provincial government had already carried out major civil works on the scheme, including the casting of 24 bridge girders, but the flyover structure has yet to be completed.

CM orders coordination among departments

Murad Ali Shah instructed the three departments concerned to work in close coordination and ensure that construction activity resumes without further delay. “I will not tolerate any further delay,” he added.

According to the briefing, the chief minister also stressed that the flyover was important for reducing traffic congestion in Hyderabad and strengthening connectivity within the city.

He said technical, financial and administrative obstacles should be removed on a priority basis so the long-pending public infrastructure project could be completed by July 2026.

Works and Services Minister Haji Ali Hassan Zardari told the meeting that he would personally oversee the project and make sure it was completed within the timeframe set by the chief minister.

The latest directive comes as the provincial government seeks to revive work on the incomplete flyover after years of delays despite land having been handed over and substantial structural work already being carried out.