KARACHl: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday said unchecked growth of Karachi had destroyed the city`s infrastructure, affected civic amenities and played havoc with the security situation.

He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Golimar underpass, which has recently been named after renowned artist Sadequain.

The Rs450.734 million underpass is 377.13 metres long and 7.5 metres wide. The project, which would connect Golimar to Nazimabad and Banaras onwards, was originally started as a flyover but with the launching of Green Line bus rapid transit project it was redesigned into an underpass, causing a delay in its timely completion. It was completed in a period of seven months.

Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Deputy Mayor Arshad Vohra and other officials were also present.

The CM said that growth of Karachi had been pathetically unplanned, that had spawned a plethora of new neighbourhoods without proper town planning.

`The situation is exerting huge pressure on infrastructure. Gutters are overflowing; water supply is not adequate to provide water to every household. On top of all is the worst law and order, which has aggravated the situation,` he said.

He said that things, however, had improved considerably and the government had begun paying its full attention to the city`s development after dealing with the law and order issues.

`It is the right of this city and its people to have all facilities for which I am doing whatever I can do,` he promised.

Mr Shah said his government had launched a Rs10 billion development programme in the city under which 18 schemes were in progress.

`I know roads are dug up in almost every neighbourhood for laying of new water supply and drainage lines or for reconstruction,` he said. `If you want me to give you a peaceful and developed city you will have to support me by enduring such issues.

Mr Shah told the Karachi mayor who belongs to the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement that `today I am giving you my powers, you may exercise them for the benefit of people and development of this city. We all have to work together for the people of this city`.

Mayor Akhtar said that the people endured the construction of the underpass with patience.