Incomplete Malir-15 flyover opened in ‘public interest’

Following inauguration, CM’s convoy makes maiden trip on flyover

KARACHI:

The much-delayed and nearly finished Malir-15 flyover was opened for the public on Monday after Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah and MNA Faryal Talpur inaugurated it at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Leading by example, the CM also became the first commuter on the nearly billion-rupee four-lane flyover, when he left as soon as the inauguration ceremony concluded, perhaps owing to the uncontrollable crowd at the event which resulted in a general chaos and some shoving.



Local government minister Jam Khan Shoro and home minister Sohail Anwar Sial were also present at the ceremony. Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Shoro claimed the Sindh government is working hard to facilitate the residents of Karachi. Even though 25 per cent of work on the project has yet to be completed, the flyover was opened in public interest, he said.

The minister informed that the flyover leading to Azeempura will be connected to the Malir-15 flyover, however work has yet to start on that project due to lack of funds and encroachments. He added that the entire project will be completed by June this year.

"Mega projects such as K-IV and S-III will be completed within the deadline so residents can be assured of a supply of clean water and sewerage facility," he claimed.



According to Karachi Municipal Administration (KMC)'s director-general for technical services, Niaz Ahmed Soomro, the total cost of the project is Rs913.8 million while the length of the flyover is 257 metres.

Tale of delays

Earlier, the flyover was to be opened for public on January 15 after a number of deadlines had passed. The flyover's construction progressed at a snail's pace mainly because of reported delays in payments by the planning and development department and encroachments in the area.

However, according to Soomro, their budget book mentions June 2016 as the deadline for the project. He said the CM had directed KMC to complete the project before the deadline to facilitate residents and traders, especially the Landhi Association of Trade and Industry.



Mobeen Khan, the general secretary of Landhi Association of Trade and Industry, had told The Express Tribune in January that delays in the flyover had worsened the traffic elsewhere. "Dawood and Singer roundabouts face severe traffic jams now due to these diversions," he added.

Meanwhile, an official of Bin Qasim Association of Trade and Industry, Abdul Rehman had complained how their work commute took at least 30 minutes longer.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th,  2016.