The spokesperson said more than 60% of the construction work had completed. PHOTO: PPI
Bahria Town on Wednesday announced it has cancelled the project for the construction of flyover and underpasses it had undertaken to build in the Clifton area of Karachi.
The spokesperson said right from the day one the project faced opposition and conspiracies from the negative forces, which totally ignored the interests of the people of Karachi, who were to be the real beneficiaries of the Rs1.8b project.
“Bahria Town continued its resolve to deliver the gift to the people of Karachi despite all the negative propaganda and conspiracies.
“However, yesterday’s judgment in response to a DHA application that the work on this public interest project be stopped immediately has convinced us to believe that to work honestly for the welfare of the people is the most difficult task in this country,” he said.
He said the Bahria Town was dragged into the court ever since this project was initiated 45 days back and more than one stay order was issued.
“Therefore, we immediately announce to leave this project and offer our apologies to the people of Karachi that we are unable to deliver the gift of a flyover and two underpasses to them despite all our sincere efforts,” he said.
The spokesperson said more than 60% of the construction work had completed.
“However, we stop it here. We started the work on this project in compliance with court orders but we have no interest left in it, even if the court now allows us to pursue it.”
According to the spokesperson, any inhabitant of the area having any complaints or difficulties should contact city or provincial governments or DHA or the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2014.
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The project of two underpasses and a flyover will be done by Bahria . Dispite the stay order againt this project Bahria needs to resolve this issue using money with few individuals.Otherwise the project will be completed. I have even Heard Bahria has already given Money to political leaders so that problem during construction may not arise.
How dare he thought of yearning the benefits on his own and ensured facilitation of a common man without giving a 'cut' to the corrupt retired Generals and Colonels at DHA? He should have imitated the same trick played at Bahria Pindi, by gifting luxurious homes to these respected armed forces personnel to ensure their family's interest had bn safeguarded.
Congrats to DHA for increasing the miseries of the citizen of karachi, DHA will be rewarded after the moonsoon rain. Actually DHA heart doesnot beat with the citizen of karachi.
A couple of my friends have been\are responsible for rendering services at Bahria Clifton, and having visited the site myself let me re assure all the tomies and haries that the construction work was only for OUR benefit, none of it caused any damage to Kothari parade, Park Towers or Shah Gazi shrine infact they are even done with digging on that kothari corner. High officials and people in general have been biased at the construction even before the digging started so its easy to assume why they are forced to leave now..
It takes a sincere leardership not the culprits, robbers or Landlords to make public welfare projects...
and also prople like SS or IK cant be produced by Sindh...
So chill and take it easy guys,..;)
Long live the blackmailers
I simply dont know whats wrong with the people here, Bahria aimed to make profit, so what? It's a private orgnization which runs on profit, nothing wrong in that. The people just cant tolerate development works, this project WOULD have benefited the public, there would have been smooth flow of traffic, the area has a traffic jam every other day, the value of houses of people living near the area would increase.
People criticized when the British made railways claiming that they destroyed heritage, people criticized when Shahra e faisal was built in Karachi in the 70s as it was extravagant and served no need. All of that did benefit the people regardless of othet motives.
Mr Riaz ,
You are innocent , it is Karachi not Lahore, Pindi or Islam abad .
Here people are Sheep . Why you are making mistake my dear .
Very surprising! The Clifton underpass does not fall in the jurisdiction of DHA yet some military Babus at DHA had their own axe to grind, or possibly a revenge from Bahria for overtaking progress at DHA-City Karachi. The DHA has itself constructed a similar flyover at Gizri despite all environmental concerns raised by the local residents. DHA has left the roads narrow in greed for larger number of plots. The DHA Staff has been directly involved in speculation of real estate. The Army needs to do some soul-searching as to whether it will remain as a realtor agency or a protector of borders. If it remains comfortable in the lucrative role of a "realtor" then it may have to compromise the much-needed respect in the hearts & minds of ordinary Pakistanis!!
This was a good project and Bahria town itself was funding it. No government funds here, should have been completed as it serves the purpose in coming years.
DHA and CBC cleansed large swathes of mangroves forests off Karachi beach in their greed for land acclamation but environment was not harmed. DHA and CBC have resorted to huge extent of land refill completely disappearing the original Karachi sea shore but environment is not harmed. 2 flyovers and one underpass which will save traffic congestion and thus pollution will harm environment!! What a country of blackmailers andcorrupts!!
Does courts give any ruling who is going to clear the road DHA, Bahria, Judiciary or it will remain for the misery of common man
Mr. Riaz should keep in mind that the old guard will only allow development in one province!
I think this project would've served better and faster route to commuters, take the eg of flyover on gizri, anyhow as usual damage is done
Totally agree with Mr. Babar Ali. Once this project is ready to go, it would add 3000+ to the daily traffic at that road. Which means every morning on weekdays, from 8:45 AM to 9:15 AM, it is going to be a mess. You won't be able to take that route to your office. It would be worse than I. I. Chundrigar Road itself.
The real gift for the residents of the area would now be the heavy traffic after 5 years when bahria icon tower would be ready without any infrastructure to support the additional population
If Bahria Town has some sympathy for the people of Karachi, then it should repair the roads of SITE area. In a posh area like Clifton only for the sake of the rich such underpasses and flyovers are being built to keep the poor away and they can built their mega projects.
Thank you. Now please put everything back where you found it.
Dis govt n court is always against to built karachi bahria was doing good work this is totally wrrong court should give permission for it.
I pity this situation where court would go against public interest. These underpasses and overhead would have help the commuters. Other than Steel mills we have dozens of cases where courts have messed up. Examples are Hyatt regency structure opposite PIDC, Gulf shopping structure on 3 Talwar and so many more. Courts should realize the colossal loss to the country and the investors beside general public. The stay order culture has defaced the country.
Court must depute an independent panel of reputed architects & town developers to study & recommend the fate of this much publicized & so called gift by Bahria to the people of DHA.
Courts hv always played negative role in financial matters.steel mill is prime example when supreme court stopped its privatization process.after this decision no foreign investor came again in pak
The courts must now force this company/pvt business to clean up the rubble and fill the excavated site!
I still dont get what all the fuss is all about. What should have been prevented, and now reversed is the encroachment and subsequent destruction of playland and the aquarium.
Was it profits or was it the welfare of the people that motivated Bahria? It is a rhetorical question.
However, it is amusing to see a business enterprise sulk like a child whose favourite toy has been taken away ("we have no interest left in it, even if the court now allows us to pursue it").
@humza The underpass would go under the road. The parade and it's surrounding would not be affected in any way.
@Humza: You see it all the time in Lahore, where fly overs and under passes have trawled over heritage.
"...more than 60% of the construction work had completed": isn't it amazing that within 45 days 60% construction work of two underpasses and one flyover was complete!
Thank God, Jehangir Kothari gave the people of Karachi a gift in the form of the Jahangir Kothari Parade. In a city lacking in good quality public space, turning such an area into an underpass is nothing short of criminal. Hopefully this serves as a lesson to others who place 'development' at all costs above the quality of life for all in our cities.
uh no.. this looks bad.. now well be stuck with all that terrible rubble. The DHA will never do anything to clean that up. honestly what is their problem. just let them finish the half made goddamn roads.