Snarl-up: Unannounced repair work at Sharae Faisal results in jam

Hotel Metropole, Fawara Chowk witness severe gridlock

KARACHI: Severe traffic jam was observed at main Sharae Faisal towards Hotel Metropole on Saturday due to unannounced repair work initiated by the Karachi Water and Sewage Board (KWSB).

All the vehicular traffic coming from FTC Flyover towards Hotel Metropole was stuck in a snarl-up. Traffic movement from Fawara Chowk was also disturbed. A traffic police constable told The Express Tribune that the traffic got choked due to the repair work of KWSB.

According to the officials, the KWSB did not inform them before digging up such an important road near the Governor House, which is why it became nearly impossible for them to control the traffic. Alternative routes were given from Dr Ziauddin Road, Khajoor Chowk, Fawara Chowk and then Hotel Metropole onto Sharae Faisal. Commuters who wanted to go towards Nursery, Clifton and Defence Housing Authority were advised to use Korangi Road from FTC Flyover.

Meanwhile, KWSB spokesperson Muhammad Rizwan said that the 24-inch sewage pipeline got choked and then sunk down, due to which all the areas near the Governor House were inundated with sewage water.

“For temporary basis, we have been clearing the gutter but we had to repair this line,” he said, adding that after taking permission from the CM and the commissioner, they dug the road. He also assured that once repair work gets completed, they will carpet it properly so that commuters do not face any kind of hindrance.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2017.