KARACHI: Pedestrian bridge at Gurumandir badly needed: Chaotic traffic
By Azizullah Sharif
KARACHI, April 2: All the footpaths surrounding the KBN Market (Gurumandir’s meat market) have been heavily encroached upon, leaving literally no space for the pedestrians to move and thus forcing them to walk amidst speeding vehicles on the adjacent busy roads.
A number of accidents involving pedestrians have already taken place on the roads converging at Gurumandir traffic intersection from five different directions.
Besides, almost all the turnings of major roads converging at Gurumandir traffic intersection from different directions and its adjoining roads have either turned into unauthorised rickshaw and taxi stands or parking lots, causing hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic.
Though the flow of vehicular traffic at the Gurumandir traffic intersection had been improved considerably following elimination of a huge roundabout and setting up of traffic signals there during the tenure of the former city nazim, Niamatullah Khan, pedestrians often become victim of speeding vehicles as no arrangements have been made for their safe crossing of number of busy roads joining Gurumandir intersection from different directions.
The number of vehicular traffic that passes through Gurumandir traffic intersection could be gauged from the fact that all the public and private vehicles coming and proceeding to Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, North Karachi, New Karachi, Surjani, Liaquatabad, Federal B. Area, Super Highway, PIB Colony, take this route to reach Mereweather Tower and Saddar area and the major roads which converge at the Gurumandir intersection include M. A. Jinnah Road, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar Road, Business Recorder Road, Jehangir Road and Jamshed Road.
At such a busy traffic intersection where a heavy volume of traffic approaches from five directions not a single pedestrian bridge has been built there for their safe crossing of roads and as a result of which pedestrians have no choice but to run for crossing the roads as the drivers normally did not bother to slow down their vehicles even after seeing pedestrians.
The traffic proceeding towards Jamshed Road from different directions stuck up near New Town mosque market area as most of the motorists visiting the nearby fast food restaurants and juice centres often indulge in haphazard and double parking.
The situation becomes chaotic, especially during evening peak hours, as most of the motorists proceeding towards Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Gulistan-i-Jauhar nowadays take this route as the New M. A. Jinnah Road (from Islamia Science College to Jail traffic intersection) is closed for vehicular traffic since long owing to inordinate delay in the reconstruction work.
Expressing concern over heavy encroachments of footpaths and non-availability of pedestrian bridge, people residing in the vicinity of Gurumandir have demanded of the city nazim to direct the department concerned to remove encroachments and build a pedestrian bridge without any further delay, or else their family members, especially children, women, elderly persons and students of nearby educational institutions, might become victim of speeding vehicles while crossing roads.
