Shahrah-e-Bhutto turns into playground
As dusk descends, Shahrah-e-Bhutto transforms into the city’s most unpredictable playground, where the thrill of speed meets the peril of pedestrian pursuits, and the city’s apathy is laid bare. Photo: EXPRESS
Shahrah-e-Bhutto, one of Karachi's most vital expressways developed to alleviate chronic traffic congestion, has inadvertently turned into a recreational hotspot for local residents, exposing major lapses in planning and enforcement.
Each evening, residents from surrounding neighbourhoods scale boundary walls to access the highway, using different sections of the road as a picnic area or playground. Despite the presence of patrolling police, little to no action is taken to prevent this encroachment.
Commuters have voiced serious concerns, urging the chief minister and other senior authorities to intervene before this dangerous misuse results in a tragic accident.
Following recent rains, The Express Tribune conducted a survey of Shahrah-e-Bhutto — from Korangi to Malir's Murghi Khana stop and back — to assess the situation on the ground.
The survey revealed that in the evenings, both sides of the road become crowded with people treating the highway as a leisure zone. Children were seen playing games and crossing the tracks carelessly, while teenagers and elderly individuals sat along the edges enjoying the breeze, seemingly unaware of the danger posed by fast-moving vehicles.
When asked about their choice of venue, locals said their neighbourhoods lack any parks or recreational facilities, prompting them to turn to the open stretches of the highway.
Despite visible security measures, including police check-posts and mobile patrolling units, there appears to be no serious effort to restrict pedestrian access. Drivers using Shahrah-e-Bhutto have called the situation extremely dangerous, pointing out that the designated speed limit is 80 km/h for heavy vehicles and 90 km/h for smaller ones, making any pedestrian activity highly unsafe.
Urban planner Muhammad Tauheed emphasised the urgent need for proper traffic management at interchanges, entry and exit points. He also raised concerns over the toll tax, which starts at Rs 100 for cars and varies for larger vehicles, suggesting it be reassessed.
Drawing parallels with the Lyari Expressway — another high-speed route suffering from similar misuse — Tauheed recommended restricting pedestrian access and establishing emergency rescue booths to mitigate the risk of accidents.
A spokesperson said, "if any misuse of this road as a recreational spot comes to light, it will be addressed immediately," the spokesperson assured, adding that the expressway was built using modern technology as part of a Sindh government mega project.