Hyderabad-Badin Road: government to initiate construction work despite opposition

Despite strong resentment of Sindh Works and Services (W&S) Department, the provincial government is going to initiate construction work of already developed Hyderabad-Badin Road under Public Private Partnership, Business Recorder learnt on Monday.
According to sources, the W&S Department has appeared to be fierce opponent over the construction of already developed Hyderabad-Badin Road, spreading over 100kms, under PPP. As the department is of the view that the provincial government is heading against a brick wall to invest huge amount on the unnecessary project, albeit the country is confronting with worst-ever financial crisis, due to natural calamity and war against terrorism.
They said the project of Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway, which was also inaugurated under PPP, is now putting excessive financial burden on the provincial exchequer and turned out to be 'white elephant' for the provincial authorities. They said the finance department, which is reluctant to rearrange the financial model of Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway project, has now rescheduled the same to save the first infrastructure road project.
Despite realising all these facts, the provincial authorities, who should have accepted the proposal of W&S department to construct the second part of the road without impairing the existing one to minimise the cost of construction, have decided constructing inner-shoulder between dual carriage of Hyderabad-Badin Road, which would not only damage the 24ft wide existing road but also escalate the cost of construction, they said.
Replying to a question, they said the provincial authorities, after facing strong criticism on the expulsion of intersections from the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway project, have included all intersections in the Hyderabad-Badin Dual Carriageway project, which would increase the construction cost of per km road to Rs 150 million. Moreover, sources said the private consultant, who was engaged in preparing the feasibility report till August 2010, has so far failed to come up with any report.