Road network awaits reconstruction

KMC’s inefficiency in completing repair work has left major avenues across the city in a rugged state

KARACHI:

Although the purpose of connective infrastructure is to provide a smooth surface for cars to travel seamlessly, outright negligence on part of the development authorities in their reconstruction of the road network in Karachi, has ironically turned commuters’ urban journeys into an endlessly bumpy ride.

Despite the Sindh government allocating a billion rupee budget for development endeavours in the port city, the concerned local bodies have failed to complete their road reconstruction work in time, leaving countless major roads in a dilapidated state for months and years, thereby flustering the commuters who have to endure regular gridlocks and simultaneously bear damage to their vehicles.

“Due to the bumpy roads in Karachi, my motorcycle keeps breaking down every now and then, costing me at least Rs3000 to Rs4000 for its repair. The state of roads has exacerbated my anger issues,” complained Muhammad Amir, a resident of the Federal C area, who further revealed that the local bodies had demolished the old road network six months ago for patchwork at different places but apparently forgot to carpet it back.

Saeed Mughal, a spokesperson for the Karachi Contractor Association seconded Amir’s statement, when he confirmed that poor planning and lack of transparency in awarding construction tenders to the contractors had left almost all roads across the city in shambles.

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According to an assessment carried out by the Express Tribune, multiple roads across the city including MA Jinnah Road, New MA Jinnah Road, SM Taufiq Road, Shahra Pakistan, Rashid Minhas Road, University Road, Altaf Barelvi Road, Nishtar Road, Jail Road, Jamshed Road, Hakeem Ibne Sina Road, Sher Shah Suri Road, Garden Road, MT Khan Road, Hub River Road, Korangi Industrial Area Road, Karsaz Road, and Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi Road were in total disrepair, with some having no carpeting and others having huge sinkholes.

“Tenders are assigned to contractors based on favouritism due to which quality roads are not being constructed,” disclosed an official from the KMC on the condition of anonymity, who also divulged that Rs5 billion had been allocated for development in the city but even after six months, the Sindh government had not paid a single penny, due to which all the development activities had come to a standstill.

Dr Nauman Ahmed, a professor at the NED University of Engineering and Technology was of the opinion that in principle the repair work of major roads in the city should have been centralized by the authorities so that those who have land management should be entrusted with these duties. “The Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) should get the repair work of roads done by its engineering department instead of pursuing contractors, which will not only save money but will also speed up the work,” opined Dr Ahmed.

A spokesperson of the KMC while speaking to the Express Tribune on the matter said, “No payment has been issued by the Sindh government for the District Annual Development Program, due to which the development works are delayed. However, some roads are being reconstructed.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2024.