KARACHI, Dec 22: Almost the entire road network in Lyari Town is in poor condition and not worthy for travel, a survey shows.
According to the survey, the condition of Shah Latif Bhittai Road and its link roads, which include Ahmed Shah Bukhari Road, Fida Husain Road, Haji Pir Mohammed Road and D. D. Chowdhry Road and Karabai Karimji Road, has deteriorated over the past few years as no repair work has been carried out.
Sheedi village Road, Faqir Mohammed Durra Khan, Juna Kumharwara Road and Chawkiwara Road linking the Town with the main shopping centre - Lea Market- also present a dismal picture.
These roads of the Town are also a shambles because of hectic transport activity. Ever since organized transport mafia has converted Lea Market into a bus stand, the condition of these roads has been deteriorating.
Residents of Baghdadi complained that no repair work had been carried out on Fida Husain Shaikha Road for the past many years because of the indifferent attitude of the authorities.
This road links Mauripur Road with Sheedi Village Road, and is named after a philanthropist, Fida Husain Sheikh. It begins from the People’s Play Ground and, passing through Nawabad, Darayabad, Baghdadi, ends at Sheedi village Road.
This road is very important to the residents as it is the shortest route for them to reach the Karachi Fish Harbour and Mauripur Road.
Residents said despite their repeated requests the road had not been repaired so far. Potholes had developed on different places on the road which had rendered it unworthy for motor vehicles.
A couple years ago repair work had been carried on a section of the road right from Mauripur Road up to old Ali Hotel. But it was washed away by heavy monsoon rains because of substandard work.
Residents complained that the repair work had not been up to the mark and urged the authorities to order an inquiry into the matter.
The survey also shows that almost the entire road network in different parts of Lyari is a shambles and many of them are now unworthy for motor vehicles because of ditches and gutter overflows.
According to the survey, barring few major roads, no repair work has been carried out on several link and inner roads over the past one decade.
Municipal authorities have always cited shortage of funds as one of the main reason for not carrying out road repair work in the locality, but residents say it is because of negligence on the part of municipal authorities.
Expressing grave concern over the dilapidated condition of roads, residents said they were facing various problems because of this as travelling these roads had become a nerve-racking experience.
They complained that the main and inner roads in the locality had not been maintained properly for the past several years. As a result, the roads were totally damaged and were in need of urgent repair.
Further adding to their problems is the defective sewerage system as filthy water is standing on roads causing environmental pollution.
Residents say it appears that either the Town administration seems to be incapable of rectifying the people’s grievances or it has not the adequate resources to undertake road repair work.
They, however, maintain that it is the responsibility of the city government to assist the Town administration in overcoming its resource constraints.
