KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved the construction of a new bridge over the Indus River to connect Sukkur and Rohri, a move designed to alleviate the heavy traffic currently burdening the historic Lansdowne Bridge. The announcement came during the 51st Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board meeting, which also saw the approval of several infrastructure projects and regulatory reforms to boost private sector involvement.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the new infrastructure will aim to provide a vital link for residents of Sukkur, Rohri, Salehpat, and Pano Aqil, who rely heavily on the existing bridge network for daily commutes. The Lansdowne Bridge, a critical crossing currently supporting over 30,000 vehicles daily, is unable to accommodate heavy traffic due to its historic status and maintenance constraints, leading to frequent congestion.
The newly approved Sukkur-Rohri Bridge, to be constructed under the PPP modality, will be located north of Bukkur Island and is intended to support heavy commercial vehicles with multiple lanes and pedestrian walkways. Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah expressed gratitude on behalf of Sukkur residents, emphasizing that the project would address significant traffic and connectivity challenges.
In addition to the bridge project, the PPP Board reviewed progress on the Shahra-e-Bhutto Expressway, which is nearing completion. The expressway is expected to be fully operational by April 2026, with solar-powered streetlights planned for a key section to enhance safety and security. The PPP Board also approved plans for the Kathore Interchange, which will improve connectivity at the expressway’s termination point.
The meeting concluded with strategic reforms to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of Sindh’s PPP framework, including new procedures for handling bids and unsolicited proposals in infrastructure projects. These measures are aimed at fostering sustainable development and encouraging private investment in the province.