Karachi: New flyover, new opportunities

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Farooq Baloch
Claims are being made that the recently inaugurated bridge, which connects SM Farooq Road, also known as 8000 Road, with Sharea Faisal, is the longest bridge ever built in the country. While the length factor of the bridge is impressive, the relief that it would provide to the city’s over-burdened traffic routes is the most alluring aspect.

The five-kilometre-long bridge, arching over the Malir River, connects the industrial and residential zones of Landhi and Korangi with Sharea Faisal via Shah Faisal Colony. There is absolutely no doubt that the bridge will benefit residents of Korangi, who earlier required nearly an hour to reach the airport and would now be able to traverse the same distance in 15 to 20 minutes. Moreover, two big industrial zones, Korangi/Landhi Industrial Area and SITE/New Karachi Industrial area, located in the city’s outskirts, have also been interconnected by the same flyover.

The flyover also provides an entrance from Korangi onto the Signal Free Corridors 1 and 2. This connectivity will greatly benefit the inhabitants of Karachi especially those residing and doing business in the localities of SITE, Korangi, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony and adjoining areas.

Apart from the corporate sector and office employees, it will also benefit thousands of other commuters and students on their trips. For example, commuters would now be able to get to the city centre without having to travel angular distances to circumvent the Malir River. Additionally, thousands of students from Landhi and Korangi would save a lot of time while commuting to Karachi University, NED University, Sir Syed University, Federal Urdu University (Science Campus). It will similarly benefit residents of Landhi and Korangi who are enrolled in Government Colleges across the Malir River.

The completion of this flyover has also significantly reduced the volume of traffic on Sharea Faisal (from Shah Faisal Colony Flyover to Jinnah International Airport) and National Highway (from airport to Quaidabad) providing a major relief to thousands of commuters who are otherwise faced with prolonged traffic jams on a daily basis.

Before this project was planned, the majority of the population of Bin Qasim, Landhi and Korangi towns would use two bridges to cross the Malir River Belt. The first bridge connects Quaidabad and Malir at the National Highway while the other (Jam Sadiq Bridge) connects Korangi Industrial Area with Qayumabad and Defense and there was no bridge in between. The recently inaugurated flyover has been constructed almost at the mid point of the old bridges thus connecting Korangi to Sharea Faisal.

Another good feature of the bridge would be its utility as alternate route during difficult situations. For example, commuters were compelled to use EBM Causeway and other roads passing through Malir River to get to the other side. But during torrential rains or flooding, the roads would be inundated and would be temporarily closed down by the traffic police. However, commuters would not face this problem again since now they would be able to pass over the river and not through it.

The aforesaid project offers numerous benefits to the commuters but they all seem to be availed by those having private cars and motorcycles. Thus, the upper middle class and elite would be the main beneficiaries. However, if the present set-up really wants to take full credit for the project, they should start a couple of new routes for public transport that can use this corridor and provide quick transit to the poor citizens from one outskirt of the metro polis to the other.

Similarly, both the city government and the provincial government should make honest efforts to serve the larger public interest by starting wide-bodied CNG buses, not only on this corridor but also on other projects that have been completed in the recent past. The present road infrastructure and network of underpasses, flyovers and expressways should be utilized for operating long-awaited, comfortable and economical public transport.

farooq.baloch@thenews.com.pk

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=161817