Heavy vehicle regulation: Development work comes to halt due to transporters' strike

No construction material is reaching under-construction sites in Karachi, say builders

KARACHI: A strike called by intercity goods carriers has put a halt to ongoing road construction work throughout the city.

The transporters went on strike on Monday to protest the restriction imposed by the Sindh High Court (SHC) on the movement of heavy vehicles in Karachi. The transporters said they could not operate their vehicles in Karachi due to the imposition of Section 144 and harassment by the police.

Moreover, confusion continues over the timing allowed for the movement of heavy vehicles within the city's jurisdiction. Some transporters believe the Supreme Court has fixed the timing between 11pm to 6am while others say the SHC imposed a 24-hour ban.



Due to the strike, Syed Qaiser Ali, the technical manager of the Karachi Infrastructure Development Company Limited (KIDCL), which is responsible for the construction work of the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit from Surjani Town till Tower, told The Express Tribune that they are running out of construction material.

Asphalt, which is one of the most vital materials for construction of any road project, is transported all the way from Korangi Industrial area, he said. "The supply of asphalt has come to a complete halt," he said, adding that the cement transported via silos trucks has also been unable to reach their construction sites.

"We don't have much stock of this material available with us," he said, adding that as no dumpers are making their way to their construction sites, the demolition of the Board Office Flyover, which was almost completed, has been stopped. "The overall progress of the entire Green Line BRT work has reduced by 30%," he lamented.



Meanwhile, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's (KMC) engineer, Khalid Masroor, who is looking after most of the construction work in the city, including that of Sharae Faisal and the underpass on Drigh Road, said the construction work that was progressing at a rapid pace in the city has been greatly affected due to the strike. "From the last four to five days, we have not been provided any construction material," he said, adding that they have been using the material in their stock.

The inauguration of University Road, which was to take place this month, would likely also be delayed due to the strike, he said.

The Sindh High Court ordered on Saturday the constitution of a high-level committee headed by the city's mayor and comprising other stakeholders to review the movement of heavy vehicles in the city during the day. United Goods Transport Alliance's Ghulam Yaseen Khan said they had high hopes for Saturday's hearing.

Since they did not get any relief from the SHC, he said they would approach the Supreme Court today (Monday) after consulting all the stakeholders.