KARACHI: Double standards in construction of Korangi Road
BY Naseer Ahmad
KARACHI, Feb 22: Work on the expansion of Korangi Road's two different portions is proceeding at varying paces. On the 2.3-kilometre stretch between Hino Chowrangi and Korangi Crossing, work is crawling at a snail's pace.
It is being carried out by a private contractor. For a long time, work on this project had stood still after it was launched in April 2002. It was meant to be completed within a year.
This project, which was to cost Rs53 million, was abandoned hardly after one-third of it was completed. The contractor had reportedly refused to go ahead with the project at the agreed terms.
After about six months, the project was pulled back onto tracks. Now it was to cost Rs110 million. The financial burden was to be shouldered jointly by the city government, provincial government, the federal government and the Defence Housing Authority. The work has not been stopped since, but, its speed is so slow that the commuters on the road are set to suffer for many more months.
Currently, the foundation of the base for the road expansion through the Malir river is being built. The focus of the contractor has shifted to this piece of work, leaving the rest out of his sight.
Potholes that had developed in the riverbed part of the road had been filled but they have begun re-surfacing. Even the debris from the thick stone walls built on either side of the ramps has not been removed, which hinders the flow of traffic.
Apparently the plan to install street lights over the median has been scrapped as is evident on the length of median built at the Crossing end. A praiseworthy thing the contractor has done is the construction of a cemented drain in front of Qayyumabad.
This has eliminated the recurring problem of sewage overflowing onto the road. The dirty water used to flood and ruin the piece of road. By the time it would have been repaired, another overflow would have occurred. However, now it seems that there would be no such problem for a long time.
City Nazim Naimatullah Khan had promised on April 12, 2002 that the projects initiated during his tenure as Nazim of Karachi would be completed before the end of his term. His prediction may not come true if every project takes more than double the stipulated time and allocations.
Hino Chowrangi, which joins together the two projects, has been dismantled and replaced by the installation of signals. The labyrinth of roads at this junction is yet to be understood by the motorists which exposes vehicles to the dangers of accidents.
When the city Nazim earlier announced that a flyover would be built over this intersection, many people took this announcement with scepticism. But a recent advertisement by the Karachi Port Trust seeking tenders for the project has removed such doubts.
The portion being constructed by the Frontier Works Organizatoin (FWO) is proceeding at a reasonably fast pace. Much of the road between Kalapul and Hino Chowrangi, running through the Defence Housing Authority, has been completed.
Bulldozers, rollers, shovels and other modern road-building machines have been in action throughout the day, and sometimes at night also.
Since this portion is being built as a long-life road by the FWO, it is taking time as its durable construction involves far more material and effort than an ordinary road.
It does hinder the traffic movement. But the motorists' suffering has been mitigated to a great extent with the road built by the Defence Housing Authority on its newly- reclaimed land between Qayyumabad and Khyaban-i-Ittehad.
