CM Murad inaugurates 1.4 kilometres long Korangi Causeway bridge
- Bridge has six lanes - three on each side - was built at cost exceeding Rs6.135 billion
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday inaugurated the Rs6.1 billion Korangi Causeway bridge and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to enhancing Karachi’s infrastructure, said the Sindh CM media consultant.
Speaking to the media at the inauguration ceremony of the bridge, the chief minister began by offering prayers for those who lost their lives in the Gul Plaza incident and urged everyone to recite Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-Ikhlas for the departed souls. He said the tragic event had deeply saddened the entire province and reiterated that no compensation could ever truly compensate for the loss of human life.
Chief Minister Murad, accompanied by Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Shah, Sindh Minister for Labour Saeed Ghani, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, arrived at the Korangi Causeway, where he was received by Special Assistant to CM Ali Rashid, Sindh Local Government Secretary Waseem Shamshad, and others.
Underscoring the importance of the Korangi Causeway project, Murad said the bridge was a longstanding commitment, especially to the residents and industrial stakeholders of Korangi and the surrounding areas. “This area used to be cut off whenever it rained, effectively dividing the city into two parts. To address this difficulty, we committed nearly three years ago to building a bridge here,” he said.
The chief minister stated that construction on the bridge commenced around one and a half years ago, but faced delays due to design-related issues. He said the newly inaugurated bridge is approximately 1.4 kilometres long, has six lanes - three on each side - and was built at a cost exceeding Rs 6.135 billion.
The CM added that the project will greatly benefit the Korangi and Landhi industrial areas, daily commuters, and nearby facilities, including Indus Hospital, SIUT, educational institutions, and residential communities. According to him, nearly five million people are expected to use the bridge daily.
Murad stated that the Korangi Causeway bridge is part of a broader initiative to rehabilitate Karachi’s deteriorating infrastructure. He noted that some ancillary construction work was still ongoing, including efforts to connect Shahrah-e-Bhutto with Korangi Road. “We aim to open Shahrah-e-Bhutto by Eid or immediately after that. Although there has been a delay of about one and a half to two months, the road will be operational from Korangi Road to the M-9 after Eid,” he said.
He was also briefed on the connecting loops and the grade-separated interchange being constructed under the Shaheed Bhutto Expressway project, which will link Korangi, DHA, and the Kathore (M-9) Highway. Two entry and two exit ramps have been built for Korangi and Qayumabad to ensure conflict-free traffic movement and reduce pressure on inner-city roads.
CM Murad stated that the Shaheed Bhutto Expressway would serve as Karachi’s economic lifeline and help resolve chronic traffic issues through controlled-access corridors.