Indus crossing to ease choke hold on Lansdowne Bridge; Bhutto Expressway to be operational by April
KARACHI:
In a major push to decongest chronic congestion in upper Sindh, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has approved a new bridge connecting Sukkur and Rohri, a project to transform mobility across a fast-growing economic corridor. The move comes as traffic pressure on the aging Lansdowne Bridge reaches a tipping point, with authorities scrambling to provide alternative routes and fast-track key infrastructure, including the nearly complete Shaheed Bhutto Expressway.
The approval was given during the 51st meeting of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board held at the Chief Minister’s House, where important infrastructure initiatives and policy reforms were also approved.
The proposed Sukkur-Rohri Bridge will serve as an alternative route to the historic Lansdowne Bridge, significantly reducing traffic pressure and facilitating smoother movement between Sukkur, Rohri and adjoining areas.
Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, while briefing the meeting, said that the twin cities of Sukkur and Rohri have developed into a single economic and urban corridor where nearly 70 percent of the residents from Rohri, Saleh Pat and Pano Aqil commute to Sukkur daily for jobs, education, healthcare and business activities.
At present, the Lansdowne Bridge serves as the primary crossing, while the Sukkur Barrage provides additional support. However, due to ongoing restoration work, the barrier will remain closed to traffic until at least 2027, further increasing the strain on existing routes.
The Chief Minister was informed that over 30,000 vehicles use Lansdowne Bridge daily. Due to its historic nature and structural limitations, heavy traffic, especially vehicles heading towards national highways such as the N-5 and M-5, is restricted, leading to severe congestion during peak hours and affecting emergency services.
To address these challenges, CM Shah approved funding under the Project Development Facility (PDF) for hiring consultants. The project will be executed under the PPP model by the Sindh Local Government Department.
The new bridge will be built north of Bukkur Island, spanning approximately 1.5 kilometers. It will be a multi-lane facility designed to accommodate heavy commercial traffic along with dedicated pedestrian walkways.
The PPP board also reviewed the progress on the 39 kilometer Shaheed Bhutto Expressway, which has reached 88.2 percent completion. The Chief Minister directed the authorities to ensure that the project becomes fully operational by April 2026. Approval was also given for the installation of solar-powered street lights on a 4.5 kilometer high section near Sammu Goth, along with a 25-year maintenance plan to enhance safety.
Meanwhile, the board approved the feasibility study and detailed design for the Kathore Interchange to improve connectivity at the expressway terminus.
The meeting approved further important reforms to strengthen the PPP framework. New rules were approved to scrutinize abnormal bids, where any bid that exceeds or falls below the estimated cost by more than 15 percent must be rejected.
A formal mechanism for unsolicited proposals from the private sector was also introduced, including the “Right of First Refusal” (ROFR).
