Roads in metropolis lack basic safety features, says CM
Roads in Karachi lack basic safety features and are not regularly maintained, which reduces accessibility and mobility, particularly for women, the elderly, and people with disabilities, noted Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah with reference to the Karachi Neighbourhood Improvement Project on Tuesday. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a 4.9-kilometre-long road, extending from Fishermen Chowrangi to Ibrahim Hyderi, the CM recalled that a rapid assessment was conducted by the World Bank in 2014. The findings noted that urban environment in the metropolis had been declining. Subsequently, the Karachi Neighborhood Improvement Project was initiated in 2017 by the Sindh government, said Shah.
Three neighbourhoods of the city - Saddar, Malir and Korangi - are being upgraded under the project, he said.
According to Shah, Ibrahim Hyderi was selected for development due to the dense and vulnerable population of the area, housing an old fishing villages but lacking infrastructure. The area has a population of around 400,000, and yet, access through the road was almost non-existence due to poor carriageway conditions, he noted, adding that rains had caused further dilapidation.
Now, the existing roundabout has been developed as a public space, said Shah, adding that the dual carriageway, a park and streets have also been built. The work has been completed to improve access to the village for both vehicles and pedestrians, with slopes, junctions and mid-block crossings, and LED lighting.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2021.