Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presiding over a meeting, directed the Works and Services Department to restart construction on the Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge over the Indus River by November 2025 and ensure its completion by 2026.
\nThe meeting, held at CM House, was attended by Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Minister for Works Ali Hassan Zardari, Special Assistant to CM Syed Qasim Naveed, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Home Secretary Iqbal Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Secretary Works Nawaz Sohoo, and Secretary Transport\/DG PPP Unit Asad Zamin, among others.
\nThe Chief Minister stated that the bridge, being built under a Public-Private Partnership, will be a landmark project linking Ghotki and Kandhkot, thereby enhancing connectivity among Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan.
\nDuring the meeting, the Chief Minister directed the Works & Services Department to begin construction activities by November 2025 and ensure completion by 2026, well before the originally planned deadline of 2028.
\n\u201cThis bridge will serve as a crucial link between upper Sindh\u2019s districts and open up immense opportunities for trade, transport, and connectivity,\u201d said the Chief Minister.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll departments must accelerate work and maintain coordination to overcome remaining bottlenecks.\u201d
\nThe Bridge over River Indus project has been launched to connect to Ghotki with Kandhkot. The provincial Works & Services Department is executing the project on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The length of the Bridge is 12.15 km with approach roads \u2013 10.40 km (Ghotki side) and 8.10 km (Kandhkot side). Thull Link Road is 4.55 km.
\nThe bridge will be one of the longest river bridges in Pakistan, directly linking Ghotki and Kandhkot to improve road connectivity between Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan.
\nAccording to the briefing, the project has achieved 83 per cent progress on the Ghotki approach road, 72 per cent progress on the Kandhkot approach road, and 16.5 per cent progress on the main bridge structure over the Indus River.
\nWork on 379 piles out of 732 has been completed, with 360 shafts, 115 transoms, and 438 bearing plinths already constructed.
\nConstruction activities were earlier suspended due to floods and security incidents. Work resumed in early 2024 but was again temporarily halted during the flood season. \u201cNow that the flood season has passed, all relevant agencies must ensure uninterrupted construction and foolproof security for the project,\u201d the Chief Minister instructed.
\nThe CM was informed that land acquisition for both Ghotki and Kandhkot sections has been almost completed, with compensation funds of Rs. 504 million and Rs. 380 million, respectively, already transferred to the district Land Acquisition Officers. However, disbursement is progressing slowly due to legal complexities involving khatedars.<\/p>\n
Mr Shah directed the Deputy Commissioners to expedite payments and clear all pending land compensation issues immediately. \u201cLandowners must receive their dues transparently and promptly \u2013 we cannot allow administrative delays to hold back a project of such public importance,\u201d he said.
\nThe Chief Minister emphasised that law enforcement deployment is crucial for ensuring smooth progress at the project site.
\nCurrently, Pakistan Rangers are stationed at one main barrack and one picket inside the Indus riverbed, while the District Police maintain deployment on three pickets in Ghotki and around 40 on eight pickets in Kashmore at Kandhkot.
\nMr Shah directed the Home Department to increase deployment of Rangers and Police on a rotation basis, round-the-clock and constitute monitoring committees comprising Divisional Commissioners and DIGs Police to review weekly security and construction progress.
\nThe Chief Minister reaffirmed his government\u2019s commitment to the timely completion of the Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge: \u201cThis project will change the economic landscape of upper Sindh. Let us deliver it with the urgency, coordination, and quality it deserves.\u201d
\nMurad Shah instructed the Works Department, Police, Rangers, and district administrations to coordinate closely and report weekly progress to his office.
\n\u201cThis bridge will transform upper Sindh\u2019s economy \u2013 it must be completed with speed, security, and quality,\u201d the Chief Minister emphasised.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presiding over a meeting, directed the Works and Services Department to restart construction on the Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge over the Indus River by November 2025 and ensure its completion by 2026. The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Minister for Works Ali […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":416599,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-511152","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n