Encroachment: KMC, traffic chief directed to clear roads

The petitioner complained that push carts also block roads in Saddar.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Traffic DIG and other officials on Thursday to devise a plan for removing encroachments from the city’s busiest areas, including public hospitals and railway stations.

Justice Maqbool Baqir, who was heading the bench, also directed them to submit a compliance report by January 14 next year. The petitioner, Rana Faizul Hasan, had named the Sindh chief secretary, home secretary, Karachi Commissioner, inspector general of police, Traffic DIG and others as respondents for failing to clear the city’s highly frequented areas of illegal encroachments.

Hasan said that footpaths and roads had been encroached in Saddar, Korangi, Malir, Cantt and near Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, among other areas.

These illegal establishments disrupt the flow of traffic on main roads, and cause problems for commuters. Pushcart vendors have also taken over streets around Empress Market in Saddar and other areas.

Hasan pointed out that intercity bus terminus were still operational inside the city, despite the allocation of separate land for them outside the city. We surveyed these areas and send a report to the relevant authorities, but to no avail, complained the petitioner.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2012.