Ruins after the rains

Repair work still to see light of day after rainy spell

KARACHI:

After the recent rains in Karachi, the repair work of roads in the city has not started yet. Along the city's main thoroughfares, the streets of the local towns are in a state of disrepair. Accidents are also more likely to occur due to large potholes.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the residents said that the construction of streets and alleys has not been going on for years. "It doesn't look like we live in Karachi. The city is in ruins but neither the federal or the provincial governments nor the local bodies are repairing or laying the roads," one of them lamented.

The city dwellers said that at least the potholes on the main roads should be repaired as accidents occur at night due to these potholes. "In Karachi, Prime Minister Imran Khan had paid millions of rupees to assembly members, but the roads they built were washed away," she continued.

The city's infrastructure has deteriorated, but neither the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation nor the district administrations have begun repairing roads within their jurisdictions. One hundred per cent roads have been destroyed in different areas.

Citizens say that Karachi has been turned into ruin, but no one is paying heed. The condition of the roads in Karachi was already bad. The city's infrastructure has been devastated by recent rains. The main roads are in disrepair.

Read More: Heavy rains batter metropolis

After the rains, main roads including M.A. Jinnah Road, University Road, Shahrah-e-Pakistan, Rashid Mihnas Road and others were damaged. There are huge potholes which are severely affecting the flow of traffic. At present, the road is in a state of disrepair at Liaquatabad No. 10, Teen Hatti, and at various places in Karimabad.

Similarly, the road on the Baloch Colony Bridge is uneven, which affects the flow of traffic. In the same way, the Korangi Express has broken down at different places. There are potholes up to the expressway. Similarly, the main roads of Orangi Town and Baldia Town have also collapsed.

The University Road, built with a cost of Rs.1 billion, has pot holes near NIPA Chowrangi, Safari Park and at other places. A utility company had already dug the road and affected an area of more than one kilometer.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2021.