Karachi: Poorly constructed bridges become bane of CDGK

[Naveed Yaseen]

By M Waqar Bhatti
The closure of Jam Sadiq Bridge near Qayyumabad Chowrangi — for the fourth time since its completion — and brief closure of the recently-inaugurated Gulshan Chowrangi Flyover on Signal Free Corridor II for repairs has exposed the performance of CDGK’s Works & Services Department. A portion of the Jam Sadiq Bridge caved in a few days back again and one of its loops is still closed for heavy traffic, causing immense traffic jams on the approach roads to the bridge.

In the meantime, a portion of Korangi road near KPT interchange also caved in on Wednesday and labourers were seen repairing the damaged portion, in the process exposing the vulnerability of the city’s road infrastructure.

On the other hand, one lane of the recently-built Gulshan Chowrangi Flyover was closed within two days of its inauguration for “fixing expansion joints” causing immense embarrassment to the CDGK as it spent around Rs410 million on the construction of the said bridge. A bridge expert at a local engineering university commented that there was nothing wrong with the construction of the Gulshan bridge and probably it was closed again for fixing expansion joints owing to its “early opening” for vehicular traffic. “The expansion joints of the Gulshan Chowrangi Flyover are metallic and they need more time to gain strength.

I think the early opening of the bridge for traffic caused its closure and after repair, it would be okay for the traffic” he said. Besides these two bridges, several other bridges and flyovers in the city are also in the dilapidated condition and need urgent rehabilitation but unfortunately, no attention is paid to their repair and maintenance. This could lead to serious mishap in the city, say observers. Officials in the CDGK’s Works and Services department disclosed that their department had hired a private consultant many months back and it had proposed immediate rehabilitation of the several bridges on a priority basis but his recommendations were not paid any heed by the officials concerned.

These bridges which need immediate repair include Jam Sadiq Bridge near Qayyumabad Chowrangi, Natha Khan Bridge on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Meeran Shah Naka bridge in SITE Town, Teen Hatti Bridge in Liaquatabad, Fatima Jinnah Bridge near Cantonment Railway Station and Essa Nagri Bridge on Sir Shah Suleman Road. As far as Jam Sadiq bridge is concerned, a causeway had to be built along it for smooth flow of traffic and was to be financed by the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) but the project was delayed owing to Red Tapism.

The delay in the construction of causeway and damaged Jam Sadiq bridge has aggravated the situation of vehicular movement in the area and heavy traffic jams are being witnessed as the repair of the collapsed portion of the bridge is taking too long.

KATI Chairman Fazl-e-Jalil claimed that it was the provincial finance department that had to give its “go ahead” to the project otherwise there was no other hurdle in it. “It is the red-tapism that is causing the delay in the construction of the causeway along the Jam Sadiq Bridge. The KITE Limited have the money, PC-I of the project is approved, tender is ready but the Sindh Finance Department is using delaying tactics, he alleged.

The EDO Works & Services of CDGK Amanullah Chachar confirmed that PC-I of the causeway along Jam Sadiq Bridge was ready and the project was only delayed due to financial arrangement from the KATI. On KATI’s argument that the funding was delayed due to finance department, he said they were only an executing agency and waiting for funding for the start of the project. As far as repair and maintenance of Jam Sadiq and other bridges is concerned, he said scarcity of funds was hampering its rehabilitation as they were aware of the urgency for the rehabilitation of old bridges in the city. “Jam Sadiq bridge and then the Natha Khan bridge are top on our priority list and as soon as we get funds, we will carry out their required repair and maintenance” he informed.

He disclosed that a detailed study was underway for the rehabilitation of the Jam Sadiq bridge and after its completion, government would be requested for funds to carry out the work. On the other hand, CDGK has invited tenders for provision of consultancy services under Sindh government’s Annual Development Program for the strengthening, rehabilitation and improvement of Natha Khan and Meeran Naka bridge in SITE Town, he informed.

Regarding damage of Korangi road near KPT Interchange, he said it had nothing to do with the CDGK as it was the KPT project and they were responsible for its maintenance and look after. It is worth mentioning here that the condition of Natha Khan Bridge on Shahrah-e-Faisal near Shah Faisal Colony is not very different from the Jam Sadiq bridge owing to numerous potholes on it and the bridge is in desperate need of getting re-carpeted. The conditions of Fatima Jinnah Bridge, Essanagri Bridge and Teen Hatti Bridge are also pathetic as their joints have widened and act as speed breakers.

These faults not only cause obstacles in the smooth flow of traffic but also damage vehicles. The footpaths and the side railings on these bridges have been broken for the last couple of years but instead of caring out their repair and maintenance, resources were used on new development projects.

A complete survey on the condition of all city bridges as well as their complete overhauling has become inevitable these days owing to loss of 10 precious human lives owing to collapse of a portion of Shershah bridge on Northern Bypass on September 2007.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=143258