Work starts on signal free corridor between Jail Chowrangi and Hino Chowrangi

Completion of Rs1.5 billion project targeted in May

KARACHI: Two underpasses and a flyover on Shaheed-e-Millat Road are to be constructed by the provincial government this year in order to make a 10-kilometre-long signal-free corridor between Hino Chowrangi, Korangi and Jail Chowrangi.

According to the plan, the two underpasses will be constructed at the Hill Park and Tariq Road intersections on Shaheed-e-Millat Road while the flyover will be built at the Tipu Sultan intersection. The other two intersections on Shaheed-e-Millat Road, which lie at Khalid Bin Waleed Road and Naheed Superstore, will be closed and replaced by U-turns. The project will be completed by May 2018 at an estimated cost of Rs1.5 billion.

The construction of the signal-free corridor was planned by the local bodies department as a part of the Karachi package. The project will ease the flow of traffic at Shaheed-e-Millat Road, one of the city's busiest thoroughfares.

Alternative traffic route arrangements are being made as work on the flyover at Tipu Sultan Road has already started.



Talking to Daily Express, Karachi Package Project Director Niaz Soomro said the construction of the flyover at Tipu Sultan Road had kicked off while the work on Hill Park and Tariq Road intersections will begin by January 15. "The Tipu Sultan Intersection is one of Karachi's busiest intersections," Soomro explained, adding that commuters face severe traffic jam on the road during peak hours.

The flyover will have two lanes, Soomro said, adding that it will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs600 million.

The intersection will be closed for traffic when the construction starts, Soomro maintained. The local bodies department was working on a plan of alternative routes, he added. The project director also revealed that Shaheed-e-Millat Road will be broadened on both sides and service roads will be re-carpeted to provide space for traffic during the construction work on the signal-free corridor.

"The project will be completed in four months," the project director vowed, adding that the construction costs of underpasses at the Hill Park and Tariq Road intersections will be around Rs450 million each.

After the underpasses and flyover's completion, which is expected in May 2018, the intersections on Shaheed-e-Millat Road at Khalid Bin Waleed and Naheed Supermarket will be closed. Commuters who previously used these intersections will be directed to take U-turns.

Once completed, the project will enable a signal free vehicular movement from Jail Chowrangi on University Road to Hino Chowrangi.



Tipu Sultan Road's renovation

In addition to the flyover's construction, the provincial government has also started work on the rehaul of Tipu Sultan Road. The four-kilometre road extending from Sharae Faisal to Sir Ibrahim Rehmatullah Road, commonly known as Karsaz Road, will be built on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials standards and will cost Rs280 million.

According to Soomro, water and sewerage lines passing along Tipu Sultan Road are also being replaced. According to the plan, street lights and a drainage system for rainwater will also be installed on the new road. The renovation of Tipu Sultan Road is expected to be completed in three months.