Recently reconstructed Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road dug up once again

Renovated around six months ago, road outside CM House dug up to lay sewerage line

KARACHI: Some roads in the city, despite being in a dilapidated state for years, seem to be preordained to not be reconstructed, whereas there are some which are built only to be dug up after a few months by government departments to lay underground pipelines or wires.

The road on which CM House and the Karachi Club are situated was recently constructed and revamped, with paved walkways, fancy street poles and globes. However, it has been dug up by Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to lay a sewerage line.

Adil Hussain, a passerby whose office is situated on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, which has been excavated, told The Express Tribune while pointing out at the section of the dug-up road, "It's a complete wastage of public money to reopen a road that was built not more than six months ago".



There is a serious coordination issue between government departments as far as road infrastructure is concerned, as it is observed that soon after a road is rebuilt, all the utility providers like KWSB, K-Electric and Sui Southern Gas Company start ruining it, Hussain added. "Those who build roads should at least coordinate with utility providers before they start constructing it."

Syed Salman, who works at dry cleaning shop near the site of development work, said, "Public money is free money, hence they're wasting it". He added that acts like re-digging of newly constructed roads and pavements open venues of corruption, which is an injustice to the people.

Commenting on the situation, KWSB District South Superintendent Engineer Aftab Chandio, who is responsible for the development work on the road, remarked that the KWSB had sent a proposal to the government for replacement of a more than 40-year-old trunk sewer running under the road but the road project was approved before the sewer line.



Chandio added that the KWSB had to start the work in an emergency because the 36-inch diametre sewer line sank last Friday. The work that started last Saturday would be completed by the coming Sunday, after which the road would be re-carpeted, he said.

According to Local Government Special Secretary Niaz Soomro, the KWSB had earlier sent a proposal for the change of sewer line, which was not accepted, whereas the carpeting and beautification of the Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road from Shaheen Complex to the PIDC Flyover was accepted. However, according to Soomro, prior to building any road, letters are sent to all the utility service providers to replace their lines if required.

The road was constructed at a cost of more than Rs50 million from the repairment fund under the direct supervision of Soomro. The project also included the road's beautification. However, now an 800 foot-long portion of the road has been shredded for the sewer line.



Amber Alibhai, general secretary of non-governmental organisation Shehri-Citizens for a Better Environment, said there is generally no coordination among government departments, which gives rise to corruption, mismanagement and ineffectiveness.

"The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and Karachi mayor are nowhere to be seen, whereas the CM is everywhere," Alibhai said. The CM has a bigger role to play but he is spending much of his valuable time looking after local government issues, she added.

"There is a complete breakdown of communication among government officials, which is accompanied by undue arrogance," Alibhai commented. "It's not their money. It's ours and is going down the gutter again."