DHA is requested to open other adjoining streets for traffic instead of diverting all traffic to the said street
KARACHI: This is to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned a problem being faced by the residents of 18th East Street, Defence, Phase 1, in Karachi. A few weeks ago, the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) blocked all the streets adjoining 18th East Street, ostensibly in a bid to control the wave of street crimes that had hit the area. The only street that was not blocked and traffic allowed to pass through, was 18th East Street.
With the blockade of other roads in the area, the volume of traffic on the said street has multiplied manifold, giving it a look of being a noisy main road instead of the quiet residential street that it is supposed to be. There is a risk of a major accident occurring on this road any day now, with several residents reporting close shaves that they had with oncoming buses and motorcycles. It is a miracle that nothing untoward has happened so far.
In addition, the very purpose that the decision to close all adjoining streets was taken, i.e., to control street crimes, seems to have failed. Residents of 18th East Street suddenly have had to contend with a steep rise in such incidents happening right outside their homes, with all sorts of criminal elements also using this street now. There have been several incidents of mobile and purse snatchings over the past few days. The DHA is requested to open other adjoining streets for traffic instead of diverting all traffic to the said street as this step has made life very difficult for the residents of the area.
Zayan Omair
Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2014.
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