Chowrangi

Tension and fear griped People of Karachi again when news of bridge collapse surfaced in afternoon.

The bridge situated at Paracha Chowk in Shershah and part of Northern Bypass was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on 6 August 2007.

So far 6 deaths are confirmed and several people are still stuck under the debris.

Karachi City Nazim Mustapha Kamal, who is quick to take credit of every ‘development’ work going in the city, denied any involvement of CDGK in construction of bridge.

The project of the Northern Bypass was started in 2002 with the cooperation of the National Logestic Cell and the National Highway. The 57 km long Northern Bypass was constructed at a cost of Rs 3.5 billion.

A part of the Northern Bypass was opened for traffic on December 14, 2004 and was inaugurated by federal minister for communications Shamim Siddiqui.

The objective of the construction of the Northern Bypass was to make easy the movement of heavy traffic and cargo vehicles and to maintain the traffic flow in the city.

Also, the Northern Bypass links Karachi seaport to Gwader port through Makran coastal highway.

So far, exact reason for collapse is not known. However, most likely it can be due to increase in heavy traffic in past few days as per Supreme Court directive most of heavy traffic was directed through Northern Bypass to reduce traffic jams in Karachi. According to a structural engineer contacted by Geo, the bridge lacked supporting pillars which caused it to cave in under the load.

President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad and Chief Minister Sindh Dr. Arbab Ghulam Raheem showed their concern over the collapse and deaths.

According to another report, there are 57 bridges and flyovers in the city and most of them are unable to bear simultaneous load of 1000 tons. It is a burning fact that the CDGK, NHA, Ministry of Transportation and all other relevant departments are playing with human lives. Unfortunately no justice system is in place to counter and punish the guilty

As Adnan pointed in his blog, Nazimabad underpass got a crater in its roof and may cause a disaster any time.

Karachi mourns yet again while the blame game goes on.

Image Source: Daily Jang

Other posts by Kashif Aziz

• Jahil Traffic Police wala of Karachi - January 7th, 2009
• KESC and CDGK Claimed Lives of Two Children in Karachi - January 5th, 2009
• Raja Pervaiz Ashraf should be sakced immediately - January 2nd, 2009
• Several States of USA under threat of Insolvency - December 25th, 2008
• Indian incrusions and double standards of Pakistan Armed Forces - December 25th, 2008
• After Ajmal Kasab, here comes Ghulam Farid - December 23rd, 2008
• Protector of Emigrants or Exploiter of Pakistan's Working Class - December 19th, 2008
• Arrogant Nusrat Javed of Bolta Pakistan - December 13th, 2008
• How To Protect Mumbai Coastline From Terror Attacks - December 10th, 2008
• Hemant Karkare investigations into Indian Army-Terrorist Nexus caused Mumbai Terror Attack - December 8th, 2008