KARACHI: City Administrator Barrister Mur t aza Wahab on Saturday said that the provincial government had released Rs1.5 billion for the repair of roads of seven routes of the Peoples Bus Service.

`In the first phase, the seven routes on which the Peoples Bus Service is running will be repaired where needed,` he said, adding that the construction and repair of other roads would also be started soon.

Speaking at a press conference here, Barriest Wahab said that the tendering process for awarding contracts of road repairs would start shortly.

He said that 157 development schemes had been approved for Karachi at a cost of Rs18bn in the current financial year, out of which 146 schemes were to be carried out under the annual development programme.

He said that Rs12bn had been released for these schemes, adding that no government wanted city roads to be in dilapidated condition as it caused hardship to the citizens.

The administrator said that the repair and construction of Chakiwara Road, Miran Shah Road, Sher Shah Road, 31 different roads in the SITE area, Shahrah-i-Noor Jahan in district Central, main road of Orangi Town, road in Federal B. Area leading to Gulberg, the roads around Civil Hospital and Jinnah Hospital and other roads were also part of these development works.

Ban on plastic bags In response to a question, he said that the ban on plastic bags, commonly called shoppers, was essential for the city as plastic bags blocked drains and created other problems. He said that citizens should use baskets or paper bags.

The administrator also warned of strict action against those who make and use plastic bags.

He said that the flyover in Gulistan-i-Johar would be constructed at a cost of Rs2bn, while a six-lane bridge would be constructed to solve the longstanding problem of the people of Korangi. `This project will cost Rs5.5bn, he added.

Barrister Wahab said that the Rs72bn Red Line project was under construction in Karachi, while the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation was constructing a road from Machhli Chowk to KANUPP at a cost of Rs800 million.

`The construction of a two-way road from Qayyumabad to Baloch Colony is also a part of the scheme,` he added.