BY,  Nazir Siyal

KARACHI, JAN 05 (DNA) – The civil society trade and community have demanded of the Sindh government to start construction of long awaited Malir Expressway along both banks of Malir River from M-9 Motorway to port and industrial areas to divert all heavy vehicular traffic.

It was dream of the metropolis’ commuters to provide relief as announced by the Sindh govt and city govt also planned Malir expressway in 2008.

Ill-fated Karachiities not only suffering heavy traffic jam daily on Shahrah-e-Faisal to Karachi Airport, M. A Jinnah Road to Tower, I.I Chundrigar road and Malir road but also the incidents of loss of lives is a routine.

Similarly, illegal encroachments on both sides of National Highway and Indus Highway spaces have completely gulped after construction of dual carriage way.

Rest of highway spaces/land sold by Sindh government revenue, police and anti encroachment cell to mafia converted into various truck stations, restaurants, Dhabas, shops, service stations, road side mosques etc.

All corners of Karachi suffering from severe routine traffic jam on city and link roads and Traffic wardens responsible of incidents due to heavy vehicular parks roadside, as 200 feet wide National highway encroached now shrinked into 80-100 feet road.

Illegal occupation and parking of heavy trucks and trawlers on newly constructed highway and its newly developed drainage both side limits the road space resulted heavy traffic jam and road accidents are routine as before.

The DNA has learnt that both side of Malir, Qaidababd via Razakabad to Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Pipri, Bin Qasim roads and other locations in Nazimabad, Korangi and Industrial areas as compare to previous situation is worst.

Later the construction of new roads and drainage limited the space, so that constructed buildings, shops, restaurants and truck stops have occupied highways particularly, Bhains Colony, Bin Qasim and Landhi locations around with the help of authorities.

Similarly, district authorities are actively created revenue documents for mafia to occupy and authorized them while presenting same docs in judiciary, but never took action against illegalities, a complete violation of rules and regulations.

Earlier, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had inaugurated Manzil Pump Flyover with a cost of Rs 514.917 million at National Highway (N-5) for the proper flow heavy traffic of industrial areas from International Airport to National Highway by smooth and signal free.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had directed authorities to remove illegal parking and encroachments roadside for proper traffic flow, but all reduced in size due to encroachments after newly construction of roads with package Rs. 10 billion.

It was observed that the flow of traffic has been affected due to encroachments, which resulted road incidents on daily basis, Sindh government departments led by Deputy Commissioner along with Revenue, police and anti-encroachment department, supposed to maintain and responsible for illegalities, they have turned their blind eye to it.=DNA

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