The city’s streets were flooded Thursday after two days of sporadic rain. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The government has completed a survey of the metropolitan city’s roads damaged during the recent heavy rains, with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) overseeing repairs on 106 roads, while another 453 roads in various cities will be rehabilitated under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.
The Sindh government has set aside a budget of Rs 25 billion for the repair and rehabilitation of bad roads in the city. The repair works will be carried out under the auspices of the Local Government Department’s Competitive and Livable City of Karachi (CLICK) project, funded by the World Bank.
A spokesperson for Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi said a meeting had recently discussed the progress of the repair work. Participants were informed that repair and rehabilitation efforts would begin shortly, with specific plans outlined for each district.
According to the spokesperson, the repairs will cover the following districts: 138 roads in the Eastern district, 50 in the Central district, 27 in the Southern district, 15 in Korangi, 93 in Malir and 27 in Kemari district.
The meeting also focused on the status of traffic signals on key routes such as II Chundrigar Road and Maripur Road. It was decided to develop plans for the beautification of the two roads, aimed at enhancing the aesthetic and functional appeal of these critical arteries.
As part of the modernization of traffic infrastructure, the Department of Transport will undertake the modernization of 45 existing traffic lights and install 31 new ones. These improvements are expected to help ease traffic flow and improve overall road safety in the city.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of the much-anticipated Red Line and Yellow Line transportation projects. These initiatives are essential to improve public transport and reduce traffic congestion in Karachi. Officials said work on the diversion project on University Road near Urdu College is nearing completion. This road diversion, spanning 2.7 km, was planned as per the directives of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The proposal for this diversion has already been submitted to the government for final approval.
The Commissioner, during the meeting, highlighted the importance of integrated planning and mutual coordination among the authorities concerned to ensure that rehabilitation projects are executed efficiently and without duplication of efforts.
