Lyari Expressway completion

The delay in construction has increased project’s cost by more than twice the initial estimated cost of Rs5.1 billion

Nearly 14 years after construction work on the Lyari Expressway started in Karachi, it may finally be nearing completion. Affected families are expected to be resettled by June, after which funds will be released to complete the pending construction work. Construction of the 16.5-kilometre-long expressway was started in 2001 but work on it came to a halt in 2004 due to a shortage of funds for resettlement of those affected by its construction. The delay in construction has increased the project’s cost by more than twice the initial estimated cost of Rs5.1 billion. The project has remained a contentious one with civil rights organisations and urban planners arguing against its feasibility and seeing it as a humanitarian disaster. The greatest sufferers have been the thousands of people who have been stuck in limbo for years wondering whether they will be forced to evacuate their homes and left jobless or not.

Civil society groups have pointed to the high environmental cost of the project, and more effective ways of controlling traffic have been frequently suggested. Despite these humanitarian concerns, the project was not abandoned. As compensation to affected families, it has been decided to provide Rs50,000 and 80-square-yard plots for the involuntary displacement of those housed near the construction site. One must note, however, that it is almost impossible to build a house with Rs50,000. Moreover, relocation has been offered in areas where basic infrastructure does not exist and there are meagre transport facilities that may result in unemployment for many. However, given that the project started years ago and most construction work has finished, it is hoped that there will be no more delays which would only lead to a further increase in financial burden. The project aims to link some marginalised communities to the city’s centre and it is expected to lead to better employment opportunities. At the same time, however, we must not forget its human and social costs and efforts should continue to be made to mitigate them.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2015.

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