The government has awarded the contract of Lakhi-Naudero-Larkana section of road project worth Rs 1.925 billion to two companies Zarghoon and Ashraf D Baloch. The project work is divided into two portions that would be completed by these two companies. The project is part of the Sindh Development Package and work on it will start soon, sources said.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that President Asif Ali Zardari is taking personal interest in the project and has directed the authorities to complete the project in time. Sources said that the project was approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) in November 2008.
National Highway Authority (NHA) has planned to improve and widen the road to international standards ie 7.3m carriageway with 1.3m shoulders on either side, sources added. The 61-km long Lakhi-Naudero-Larkana section has recently been finalised for construction.
Sources said that it connects National Highway (N-65) at Lakhi Chowk in District Shikarpur and Indus Highway (N-55) at Larkana. The existing road is 4 to 6 m wide while the surface condition is bad and shows signs of numerous repairs. The condition of various structures including bridges and culverts is also poor and requires major rehabilitation, sources added.
They said that 112 culverts (small bridges) will be reconstructed besides a major bridge on Sim Nullah. They maintained that the upgradation of this important link will immensely facilitate the movement of both freight and commercial traffic between Indus Highway and N-65.