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DHA removed Kh-e-Shamsheer divider as part of Zamzama one-way plan

Plan includes making Zamzama one-way towards Two Swords looping back from route that goes behind Zamzama Park.

Irfan Aligi March 11, 2011

KARACHI:

The reason why the Defence Housing Authority removed the Khayaban-e-Shamsheer road divider in front of Khadda Market is to experiment with making Zamzama one-way to the Two Swords roundabout.

“The division was removed to allow for heavy traffic flows and to assess the feasibility of the plan,” explained DHA PRO Col (retd) Rafat Hussain Naqvi. The plan includes making Zamzama one-way towards Two Swords with it looping back from a route that goes behind Zamzama Park.

According to DHA’s director of development, Col. (retd) Ahmar, it will take one and a half months to fix the plan as the route behind the park is slightly complicated.

There is no straight road parallel to Zamzama and the area is entirely residential. “There are problems but DHA is taking steps to address them diligently,” said Col. (retd) Ahmar. “The diversions will still be intact around shopping venues on Zamzama,” he clarified.

According to Ahmar, one of the hurdles to this plan is that people still double park and it is hard to persuade people not to park on the street. DHA’s solution is a multi-storeyed car parking plaza but this will take about a year to make.

One resident of DHA, who did not want to be named, said that the authority should ideally inform residents about their plans. “Nobody knew why the divider was removed,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (4)

Farooq Khan | 13 years ago | Reply This plan was initiated some two and half years back in implementing this plan, as a first step, DHA closed all exits/ intersections/ turnings, which earlier existed between 3rd Zamzama and Khayaban-e Tauheed, by placing road dividers . The execution of the 1st stage of the ill-conceived plan only demonstrate typical myopism of the Khakis. The objectives and planning were ill-conceived, ideas vague without realizing the effect or outcome of their plan. The failure could solely be attributed to chalk out plan-of-action and lack of vision, instead of providing relief this plan is/was entirely a case of antithesis as it has caused and added to the miseries of the residents and visitors of Zamzama as a result of this closure traffic jams, long ques of cars has become a daily routine. The brigadier has gal to say there are still some glitches which they are trying to remove after two and half years ... what guarantees we have that they will not consume similar period in removing these ground problems ... what an apathy!!!! Is anyone listening??

Adnan | 13 years ago | Reply DHA is one the worst planned areas I have ever seen! It is also one of the least maintained. I don't know why they waste time trying to create new routes when the old routes need attention. This car park was planned a while back and its no surprise that it isn't built yet. Seriously, DHA needs to be taken out of the hands of retired armed forces personnel and given to those who really can and want to make a difference. DHA is no longer a prime location in Karachi, consisting of poorly maintained roads and construction violations and hoards of beggars.

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Jeddy | 13 years ago | Reply It is impossible to find any place in DHA. No one knows where a street or Khayaban begins or ends. Some of them continue after a block of bungalows. Apparently to prevent accidents - certain Khayabans are blocked off, so it is impossible to go its next section. Khayaban-e-Badban is a classic example of how confused the planners are.

Billoo Bhaya | 13 years ago | Reply To the DHA Resident: Sir, DHA does not know whether it is coming or going so how can they tell you of their plans? DHA is the only complicated issue that Khaki's deal with. Other than that they know Left Turn, Right Turn and HALT. In DHA they are applying what they learnt at tax payers expense. And we have been at HALT mentally for 63 years.

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