'Sindh Road Improvement Project': proposals submitted for Rs 31 billion projects under ADB financing

Sindh government has submitted proposals for Rs 31 billion projects for Asian Development Bank (ADB) financing in the next five years Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for intercity road connectivity as well as to connect the province districts with national highway.
Secretary Sindh Works and Services Qazi Shahid Pervez told a select group of Islamabad-based journalists that the ADB had agreed in principle to provide $200 million in 2015 for six projects under 'Sindh Road Improvement Project' for up-gradation of 398 kilometer roads.
He further stated technical study report, which was being finalised by the consultant, would be submitted at the next ADB's Board meeting for approval of financing to undertake the up-gradation of the roads. He said provincial government had also proposed nine projects of Rs 30.8 billion for ADB future financing. These projects are designed to provide connectivity to districts and cities. Secretary added that focus of Sindh government was now to provide connectivity to its districts with national highway.
Qazi added that power generation activities in Thar coal were expected to generate economic activities with enhanced transport movement and widening and reconditioning of roads would also help meet the future requirements. The provincial government as proposed by the ADB, he said, had decided to manage operation and maintenance of the proposed future road sector project under public-private partnership due to financial constraints.
Secretary further stated that the provincial government was unable to take care of road maintenance owing to inadequate resources and ADB came up with the idea of public-private partnership in the road sector. "We have agreed to their proposal to operate them under public-private partnership." The component of capital investment would be provided by the ADB for planned nine road sector projects for intercity connectivity as well as with national highway and operation and maintenance would be handed over to the private sector and cost would be recovered through toll collection, secretary said.
He added that the cost recovery had been proposed through toll collection within a period of 25 years. That, he said would be the second venture of the provincial government in road sector as the first project for rehabilitation of roads damaged during the floods was recently completed. The proposals of future ADB financing include: (i) Rs 7 billion for provision of overhead bridges on 35 busy railway crossings;(ii) Rs 4.020 billion for construction of 35 kilometer road dual carriageway and Ghotki-Kandhkot bridge;(iii) Rs 2.3 billion for doubling 35 kilometer road from Jacobabad to Kandhkot;(iv) Rs 5 billion for widening and reconditioning of road between District Khairput and Sanghar;(v) Rs 1.4 billion for widening and reconditioning of 49 kilometer road from Kotdigi Hala too Sanghar; (vi) Rs 3.3 billion for widening and reconstruction of 42 kilometer Guddu-Kashmore roads; (vii) Rs 1.7 billion for 59 kilometre widening and reconditioning of Dadu-Moro-Bandhi road; (viii) Rs 2.3 billion for widening to Sanghar via Sorah (ix) Rs 3.5 billion for construction of Hyderabad Southern Bypass and interchange bridge on River Indus and construction of 41 kilometer road in districts Hyderabad to Jamshoro.