Bahria Town flyover: Residents complain over stay of construction

Debris left at the site pose pollution hazards and traffic problems.

KARACHI:

Local residents are protesting the stay of construction of a flyover in the upscale Clifton neighbourhood of the metropolis on the pretext of environmental issues.

The locality faces serious pollution hazards due to dust and debris left at the construction site of the incomplete flyover. The flyover’s construction, which was being undertaken by Bahria Town, has been stayed by the Sindh High Court (SHC) due to environmental concerns.

The cessation of construction work has become a cause of great concern for residents of the locality. The dust and debris left at the construction site poses serious threats to the health of those living in the neighbourhood.

Leaving the project unfinished has given rise to traffic problems for commuters as well. It has also caused much trouble for people visiting the shrine of Sufi saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi, which is located in the area.

According to Bahria Town administration, its initiative to build the flyover and the underpasses in Clifton was the first instance in Pakistan’s history of a private organisation carrying out infrastructure development in the interest of the general public. It claimed there had been concerted efforts to halt the projects from the get go.

Bahria Town administration maintains that the construction of the flyover and underpasses would have been a first step in bringing civic infrastructure in Karachi at par with world standards.

The projects, it said, would have provided much relief to commuters from traffic woes. People visiting the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi from rural Sindh would have also benefitted from the projects, the Bahria Town administration added.

The SHC restrained Bahria Town from carrying out construction work on the flyover and underpasses for a second time on April 29. The court had granted a stay against work on the projects once before on April 2, but had vacated the stay later after it was challenged by Bahria Town.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2014.