Chowrangi

Karachi, formerly known as City of Lights, can now be labeled as the City of Construction and Traffic Jams. In last 3 years Karachi is ripped open, end to end. The senseless digging, filling and re-digging is going on, while Karachites suffer from Traffic Jams, Pollution and Viral Infections. Anyone in his/her sane mind can ask why all these “construction” projects have been started simultaneously. Only answer to this million dollar question is that this is the only sure-fire way to gobble up funds allocated to Nazims, MPAs and MNAs for development in their constituencies. The “development” of flyovers, roads and roundabouts is going on without proper diversion and safety plan in place. Millions of commuters are at risk of construction hazards on their daily travel across the city.

As observed in a post about Traffic Jams in Karachi, one and half year ago, most of the jams at that time happened due to construction work going on M.A. Jinnah Extension Road, Rashid Minhas Road, Shahrae Jehangir, 5000 Road in North Karachi, 8000 Road in Korangi Manghopir Road etc. The flyover works are ongoing at Time Medico intersection, Hasan Square intersection and Sohrab Goth, Underpasses works are also underway at Gharibabad, Liaquatabad No. 10 and Nazimabad No. 2.. The CDGK made tall claims of eliminating traffic jams once these projects are finished but now we can see that the jams are still there inspite of the fact that most of these projects are completed. We even see jams on the flyovers. This means that CDGK was incorrect in estimating the efficiency of these projects and it has wasted billions of rupees for nothing.

If one has to navigate through construction mess around the city, there is no official help available. The CDGK website has everything else but information on the ongoing “development” in the city. Surprisingly, the assistance comes from Sindh Police, as their website offer some details about the excavation. However, only towns and main roads are mentioned and that too without any date of completion. There is no information about hundreds of side-roads which have earth and debris, piled end to end.

Taking Gulshan Town as specimen:

Roads Under Construction in Gulistan-e-Johar:

• Rashid Minhas Road from Drive-Inn Chowrangi to Johar Morr
• Jouhar Chowrangi Road at Johar Chowrangi.
• Samama Shopping Center upto Johar Chowrangi

Diversion:

• Due To construction work at Johar Morr upto Drive-Inn Chowrangi the alternate route is from Dalmia Road towards National Stadium in peak hours.
• The vehicular traffic going towards Karachi Airport will use Johar Chowrangi, Pehlwan Goth Chowrangi, Civil Aviation Barracks Road to Kala Chapra and Sharah-e-Faisal Road to Karachi Airport. The vehicular traffic coming from Airport will use flyover of Drig Road, Dalmia Chowrangi towards Stadium Road.
• Double way traffic is plying on single track from old Furniture Market upto Safari Height’s Cut.

Observations:

Regular Traffic Jams near Millennium Mall and Dalmia Chowrangi. Roads from Millennium Mall to Johar Morr and from Johar Chowrangi towards Samama Shopping Center should be avoided during peak hours.

Roads Under Construction near Old Sabzi Mandi:

• University Road from Nazim-e-Aala Office cut upto Jail Chowrangi
• Kashmir Road/ Shahrah-E-Quaideen
• Altaf Ali Brailvi Road from Sindhi Hotel upto Askari Park

Diversions:

• Traffic is being diverted from Jail Road Chowrangi.
• Double way traffic is plying on single track from Jail Chowrangi upto Nazim-e-Aala Office cut.
• Double way traffic is plying on single track from Askari Park upto Sindhi Hotel.

Observations:

University Road from Jail Chowrangi till Hasan Square is difficult to commute during peak hours. One side of the road is under construction while the by-roads (Alamgir Road, Newtown, Kashmir Road etc) are digged up most of the time. University Road is under construction since March-April 2007 and major traffic is redirected to Sir Shah Suleman Road (Civic Center - National Stadium) and the road leading to Stadium from Jail Chowrangi. Due to this both of these roads are under heavy vehicular pressure. Traffic Jams are now common in front of Agha Khan Hospital and Liaquat National Hospital.

Roads Under Construction at Gulshan Chowrangi:

• Rashid Minhas Road/ Allama Shabbir Usmani (construction work of flyover at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Chowrangi)

Diversion:

• Traffic coming from Mochi Morr to Gulshan-e-Iqbal Chowrangi is diverted towards Fazal Mills and Traffic coming from Disco Bakery to Gulshan Chowrangi is diverted to NIPA side.

Observations:

With no apparent logic, CDGK decided to built a flyover on Gulshan-e-Chowrangi, one of the busiest intersections of Gulshan Town. Construction started few days before Eid-ul-Fitr. Due to this blockage commuters have to travel an extra kilometer to reach their destination. This has resulted in jams at Nipa Chowrangi and near Fazal Mills intersection (which is also partly under construction)

By above examples, it is evident that Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town is besieged from three sides. These are some of the main arteries of Karachi which have fallen prey to CDGK’s development drive. On any given day, various by-roads and internal lanes can be found under excavation. Most of these streets are digged without prior notice and usually no alerts are at place to warn the motorists off. One has to reach the dead-end and then reverse back for exit.

Other posts by Kashif Aziz

• Reflections On Twin Blasts in Karachi - February 6th, 2010
• Aafia Siddiqui convicted, may be sentenced for 60 years - February 4th, 2010
• Dawn News going down the Drain? - January 30th, 2010
• Has Karachi Gone To Dogs? - January 27th, 2010
• Earthquake devastated Haiti need our help - January 17th, 2010
• Makro Karachi Selling Dead Fish - January 14th, 2010
• Mustafa Kamal Cursing After Ashura Blast - January 4th, 2010
• Who was really behind Post Ashura Blast Arson? - January 2nd, 2010
• Karachi Ashura Blast Aftermath - January 1st, 2010
• FBR harrass tax payers, sends threatening SMS - December 18th, 2009