Malir Expressway opens Friday

CM Murad Ali Shah will inaugurate the first section of the unique high-speed corridor Malir Expressway

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KARACHI:

In a major breakthrough to improve mobility and avoid traffic jams in the port city, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will inaugurate the first section of the unique high-speed corridor Malir Expressway on January 11.

The initial 9.1-km stretch from Korangi Causeway to Shah Faisal Interchange was a major milestone in improving Karachi's infrastructure, which would help ensure better connectivity and traffic flow.

The decision to inaugurate it was taken in a review meeting chaired by CM Murad at the New Sindh Secretariat. The final progress of the project was reviewed in the meeting.

Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, Mayor Murtaza Wahab, CM's Principal Secretary Agha Wasif, Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho, Secretary Local Govt Khalid Haider Shah, Secretary Transport Asad Zaamin and Project Director Malir Expressway, Niaz Soomro were among the attendees.

The two-way and three-lane 40km-long Malir Expressway, built under a public-private partnership (PPP), would connect Korangi Creek Avenue (DHA) to Kathore near the M-9 Motorway (Superhighway). This project would significantly reduce travel time and provide a vital link for commuters.

The meeting was told that the expressway has special interchanges for easy access to major residential and commercial areas. The first phase includes a ramp for faster traffic flow, along with a connecting flyover from Korangi, which is expected to be completed within two months.

Road rehabilitation projects at Jam Sadiq Interchange, EBM and Shah Faisal Interchanges are in full swing. Encroachments have been removed at Quaidabad Interchange and construction is in progress.

Officials briefing the CM and his team said that the toll plaza will manage traffic flow, charging cars and jeeps R100 and heavy vehicles Rs200. Security arrangements include traffic police, fire brigade, and Rescue 1122 ambulances patrolling the area. The Chief Minister has directed law enforcement agencies to deploy district and traffic police at key entry and exit points, including Jam Sadiq, EBM, and Shah Faisal Interchanges. Dedicated traffic police will patrol both sides of the expressway to ensure smooth traffic flow.

The Shah Faisal Interchange to Shah Faisal Colony Bridge section has been declared a No Parking Zone. The expressway will only allow commercial vehicles, cars, jeeps, and buses, while motorcycles and rickshaws are strictly prohibited to use it.