Target unaccomplished: Repeated revisions of Golimar underpass deadline

Construction of underpass began in April last year

KARACHI: The Golimar Underpass is yet another project of the Sindh government, which is not very lucky.

The construction of the underpass started in April, 2015, but it may not be able to see the light of day before February next year. The completion date of the project in the revised work order by the Sindh government mentions the said date.

Revised deadlines

In April this year, local government minister Jam Khan Shoro vowed that the Golimar Underpass would be completed in three months. Meanwhile, then Karachi commissioner Asif Hyder Shah gave the deadline of June 30 for the project. Later, by the end of June, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) technical director-general Niaz Somroo claimed that the project would be completed by August 14. None of the gentlemen’s words turned out to be true.

Flyover-turned-underpass

Initially, a flyover was supposed to be constructed at Golimar Chowrangi. At the eleventh hour, however, plans changed and the flyover project was converted into that of an underpass to facilitate the federal government’s Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) flyover, which is also supposed to pass over Golimar Chowrangi. This change of plan is what the KMC’s officials and the Sindh government always point out when asked about the reason of the delay in the construction.

Encumbrances

According to a KMC engineer at the site who wanted to remain anonymous, the revised work order was issued by the Sindh government in the middle of May this year, after which the construction work was restarted. He explained that the recent cause of the delay was the relocation of the utility lines of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, K-Electric, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited and Sui Southern Gas Company. The KMC engineer said that the side of the underpass towards the Dak Khana is almost complete while the reason for the delay in construction of the other side was the presence of utility lines and the delay in the funds required for their relocation. The funds were, however, released with the revised work order.

The official pointed out that the payments for the relocation of utility lines are issued before the construction project starts. However, for the Golimar Underpass, he said that the funds were issued after more than a year by the Sindh government. Since the final date of completion of the project is February 15, 2017, he said that the construction cannot be expected to be completed by this year. However, “if all goes right, the project will be completed by December this year,” he said, adding that 65% of the project is complete but he expects that further hurdles will emerge.

On the other hand, Somroo told The Express Tribune once again that the project will be completed in two months. He reiterated the problems created by the delay in relocation of the utility lines.

Public suffering

The residents of the area have little hope in the completion of the project. Huda Talib, a resident of Nazimabad, said that the project’s construction has been under way for over a year. “We have no hope from the government anymore,” she said, adding that what could be expected from a government that has taken more than a year to complete one underpass.

The city’s largest sanitary and hardware market, located at Golimar, has been suffering the most. Former Gulbahar Traders Association president Muhammad Amin Lasania said that this was the height of negligence on the part of the government. “At least the roads used for diversion of the traffic should be constructed so that people may get some sort of relief,” he said, adding that even if the Sindh government completes the project now, it should not be taking any credit.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2016.