Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said the newly constructed bridge on River Indus has bridged the two newly divided districts of Thatta and Sujawal and it has paved the way to transport heavy machinery from Karachi Port to Tharparkar to install coal-based power plants. This he said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of newly constructed Thatta-Sujawal Bridge on River Indus, said a statement issued here on Friday.
He said the old Thatta-Sujawal Bridge was constructed about 50-54 years ago and it had developed cracks in its structure. "The big issue was how to transport heavy machinery of coal-fired power plants to Thar coal field," he said, adding the development endeavours were being affected due to the old bridge.
Murad said that keeping in view the urgent requirement of the new bridge his government decided to construct new bridge on River Indus from it own resources. He said the bridge had been constructed within a period of 19 months at a cost of Rs 2.9 billion. Appreciating the Thar Coal Authority, the executing agency of bridge, the Chief Minister gave appreciation letters to the concerned officers and the contractors. The CM said the bridge immediately joined or connected the two districts of Thatta and Sujawal divided administratively recently.
Murad said the new bridge would usher in the new vistas of development and prosperity in the area up to the desert of Thar which had started producing black gold to provide power to the whole country. The new bridge is a four-lane and the old bridge, which was two-lane, would also be used simultaneously for smooth flow of traffic. "I would suggest to the district administration to use the old bridge for light traffic, including bikes," he said.
The CM announced to construct two more bridge on River Indus, one at Zulfikarabad and other one at Kandhkot-Ghotki. The Government has already constructed a bridge on River Indus at Jhirk-Mulakatyar and he is going to inaugurate it shortly, he said. Earlier, when the CM landed at the bridge he was received by Provincial Minister Mohammad Ali Malkani, PPP leader Sadiq Memon and others besides senior government officers.