KARACHI, Sept 5: Slow pace of work on the reconstruction of Begum Khursheed Road is a constant source of hardship for the people of Malir. The delay is being attributed to the shifting of underground electricity and phone cables.
The city government had undertaken work on the road some eight months back and since then replacement of utility services (repair of three water supply lines, laying of drainage network and phone and electricity cables) is going on at a snail’s pace.
At present the KESC is shifting five 11kv high tension cables while the PTCL is constructing chambers and manholes.
Although work suffered during the last 15 years, the KESC proved to be the last utility to have undertaken shifting of cables at a time when the city government finally decided to complete the road on Sept 20.
Sources said the city government had initiated work on the road in a haphazard manner after uprooting one track of this dual carriageway from Kala Board to Saudabad Roundabout, and no alternative traffic arrangements were made.
At present an 18-feet track is available for the two-way traffic, and no traffic personnel have been deployed to guide citizens. Traffic jams occur at various spots, especially at Tanki where uplift work is in progress.
The city government had some time back given notices to the KWSB, KESC and the PTCL etc., asking them to shift their services or to place them in the utility channel, so that there should be no unnecessary digging of road after it is finally built on long life standard specifications.
However, area people expressed concern over delays in the completion of the road. Moreover, they said no action had been taken against encroachers who have usurped footpath.
Inquiries revealed that the city government first delayed the road project for about three years and did not initiate work on this major project because it is named after the mother of MQM chief Altaf Hussain. The work was started after the Town nazim Navedul Islam renamed a small portion of the road after his predecessor, late Azam Ali.
Traffic jams occur daily because of haphazard parking of cars, pickups, trucks and carts in front of shops at Malir Tanki by the shopkeepers. At flower stalls, cars are decorated for weddings. At least 50 shops are located along the road, which have occupied a major portion of the footpath and portion of the road, causing inconvenience to the people.
The area people have urged the Sindh governor, advisor on local government commission and caretaker city government to order removal of encroachments and work on the road be completed at the earliest.
