Numaish Chowrangi underpass inches closer to inauguration

Authorities had earlier decided to open the road by the March end but the plan had to be changed because of lockdown

KARACHI: After more than a year of construction, together with several administrative blockades and delays, the construction of the Numaish Chowrangi underpass has reached its final phase of completion - a move that will enable Karachi motorists to breathe a sigh of relief. It's inauguration, however, is contingent upon the ongoing lockdown in Karachi, which has completely disrupted the schedule.

After its completion, which is expected this month, the main Numaish Chowrangi road will be opened for two-way traffic. Meanwhile, roofing work of the underpass will continue until August this year.

The bituminous carpeting on both the roads that link the MA Jinnah Chowrangi with Numaish Chowrangi had been underway while traffic signals were also being installed there. However, work had to be stopped because of the outbreak.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, construction workers and site engineers working on the project said that the lane extending from Britto Road to Shahrah-e-Quaideen has already been opened for traffic.

The lanes linking the MA Jinnah Road and Parsi Colony Road with Numaish Chowrangi will be opened for the traffic this month, meanwhile, Nizami Road will be opened on April 7 if the schedule is not further changed.

Karachi lockdown

Despite vigorous efforts to complete the construction of the road in the last few months, all progress had to be halted because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the supply of construction material has also been suspended.

“We had earlier planned to open the Numaish Chowrangi on March 23, however, the plan could not be implemented per schedule because of the coronavirus lockdown,” a site engineer, who chose not to be named, said. “Irrespective of the new hurdles, the situation is under control. We have enough material, manpower and machinery at our disposal, therefore, we are highly hopeful to complete the construction of the Numaish Chowrangi underpass as soon as the situation normalises, probably by mid April.”

He also said that the staffers and labourers working on the project have been educated about the spread of the Covid-19 disease. Accordingly, they have been instructed to wear protective masks, frequently wash their hands with soaps, use sanitisers, and maintain distance from coworkers to keep themselves safe once the project resumes.

“Even though we are all set to complete the project in April, everything now depends on the coronavirus situation in the city. In case of a widespread outbreak, an extended lockdown, a curfew, or if some labourer gets affected, the situation would get beyond our control and the project would probably have to be further postponed," he said.


Stuck in limbo

The construction of the underpass at Numaish Chowrangi was primarily delayed because of the

federal government’s Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme, one which links Surjani Town to Municipal Park (Jama Cloth market). The project commenced in January 2016 and was scheduled to be completed by December 2017, however, owing to the delayed response of the federal government, frequent design changes and differences of opinions between the federal and provincial governments, the project was deferred.

The first part of the Phase I of Green Line BRT that extends from Surjani Town to Gurumandir is 17- kilometres long. The civil work has been fully completed while the construction of the stops and stations is in its final stages.
However, the second part of the Phase-I of the bus project, one that extends from Numaish Chowrangi to Taj Medical Complex, has been stuck in limbo for the past three years. As for the Phase-II of the project, construction work from Taj Medical Complex to Municipal Park has not commenced yet. Sources, however, said that Phase-II is likely to commence from May this year, depending on the situation.

An official of the Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited (SIDCL), who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the construction work on Numaish Chowrangi was delayed numerous times. Per the original planning of the federal government, an elevated structure was to be erected, however, after the objection of the Quaid-i-Azam Mazar Management Board (QMMB), the federal government decided to change the design and construct an underpass instead.
As a result, the main Numaish Chowrangi was completely closed for traffic in October 2018 for the construction of the underpass.