Karachi traffic police announce plan for Pakistan-Sri Lanka ODI series

2,000 traffic police officials will be deployed across the city during the matches

KARACHI: Karachi Traffic Police have prepared a comprehensive plan to manage the flow of traffic across the city, during the one-day cricket series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to be held from September 27 to October 2. As per the plan, 2,000 traffic police officials will be deployed across the city during the period the Sri Lankan cricket team visits Karachi for the three-match series to be played at National Stadium Karachi.

Providing details about the plan during a press conference on Wednesday, Traffic DIG Javed Ali Mahar said that spectators visiting the stadium would only be allowed to park their cars in areas reserved for parking if they produce original CNICs and match tickets. The Federal Urdu University Ground, the Ghareeb Nawaz Football Ground near Millenium Mall, Expo Centre Karachi and parking ground of Rana Liaquat College, adjacent to Aga Khan University Hospital, have been reserved as parking areas for spectators' cars, he said.



According to Mahar, citizens know about the areas reserved for spectators' parking, as the same spots were reserved for spectators' parking during cricket series previously held in the city.

Routes

Spectators from the West District will be able to reach the Federal Urdu University Ground via Nipa and Liquatabad no. 10. Two routes have been designated for approaching the ground from Malir and East districts - one extending from Safoora Chowrangi to Nipa and another stretching from Sohrab Goth to Gulshan Chowrangi. In order to reach the Ghareeb Nawaz Football Ground, residents of Malir and east districts will have to travel from Drigh Road to Rashid Minhas Road and then take a left from Millenium Mall to reach the Stadium road, leading to the ground.

To approach Expo Centre Karachi from the South District, Korangi and DHA, citizens will have to travel to the University Road via Shahrah-e-Faisal, crossing Shahrah-e-Quaideen, Allah Wali Chowrangi, Society Chowrangi and PP Chowrangi on their way, and then take a U-turn near Baitul Mukarram Masjid. Similarly, residents of central and west districts will have to approach the U-Turn near the Baitul Mukarram Masjid via route leading to Hassan Square from Nazimabad, crossing Liaquatabad no.10 on the way. Those who will park their cars at Expo Centre Karachi will have to go through a checking procedure at the centre's gate no. 2, before they will be allowed to move towards National Stadium Karachi.

Residents of Tower, Saddar and DHA will be able to reach Rana Liaquat Girls College, on Stadium Road, via MA Jinnah Road, taking a U-Turn to approach the University Road. However, those coming from DHA will have to travel a few extra miles, crossing Shahrah-e-Faisal, Shahrah-e-Quaideen and PP Chowrangi to end up on MA Jinnah Road. From Rana Liaquat Girls College, spectators will be provided shuttle service to reach National Stadium Karachi.



Diversions

Speaking at the press conference, DIG Mahar also provided details about alternate routes. He said that during matches, citizens will not be allowed to travel to the stadium from Shahrah-e-Faisal via Karsaz, advising that those travelling on this route take a detour to Rashid Minhas Road in order to avoid inconvenience. Those travelling from the airport will be able to approach Rashid Minhas Road via Drigh Road and Nipa via Millenium Mall, he said.

Mahar further said that routes leading to National Stadium Karachi from Rashid Minhas Road, via Dalmia Road, will be blocked during the matches. Citizens will be able to approach Shahrah-e-Faisal and Millenium Mall through Nipa, crossing Askari IV and Drigh Road, he added. Citizens will have to travel through Nipa in order to reach Safoora Chowrangi, and will be able to approach Gulshan Chowrangi via Sohrab Goth, said Mahar.

He said that the road leading to the New Town U-Turn from the University Road will be blocked but the route from Jail Chowrangi, Shaheed-e-Millat Road and PP Chowrangi to the U-turn will remain open for traffic.

According to Mahar, University Road, Shaheed-e-Millat Road and Rashid Minhas Road will remain open for traffic during the matches, which flow of heavy traffic will be restricted from Sohrab Goth to Nipa, from Liaquatabad no. 10 to Hassan Square and from PP Chowrangi to University Road.

DIG traffic said that the residents of Stadium Road will be allowed to go to their houses after producing their original CNICs. However, residents who have a different residential address mentioned on their CNICs will be allowed to go to their houses on Stadium Road after confirmation of the address, he said.

He appealed to the management of public schools to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and traffic police, while requesting the citizens to follow the guidelines issued by the traffic police.



The matches will start at 3pm and will continue till 11pm and the routes will be blocked three hours before the matches start, said Mahar.

He said that the citizens can call on 1915, visit the Karachi traffic police's facebook page or call on WhatsApp helpline number, 0305-9266907, for further guidance. Regular updates about the situation of the traffic will also be provided on Radio FM 88.6.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2019.