KARACHI: Service lanes along Sharea Faisal being grabbed
By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque
KARACHI, Dec 6: The grabbing of service lanes and footpaths on Sharea Faisal has become a routine feature as many influential government and private organisations are busy encroaching upon public land to expand their offices or construct parking facilities. Legally no land controlling authority can issue permission to any individual, government or private organisation, even for security reasons to include a service lane or footpath in any residential or commercial building.
The encroachment of a portion of the service lane alongside Sharea Faisal by a private bank to build a parking facility for its head office is seen as the latest example of land grabbing, which would not only add to traffic congestion at this point but also hinder future renovation and expansion of this major artery.
Likewise, another part of the service lane is also being encroached upon by a military organisation, which is raising walls on the service lane. In the recent past, an intelligence agency had grabbed a footpath and service lane near Regent Plaza traffic intersection to expand its establishment.
Civic agencies officials told Dawn that the maintenance, renovation and widening of Sharea Faisal was the responsibility of the city government but it was not the only land controlling authority in the areas along Sharea Faisal as it shared this responsibility with different cantonment boards and others.
Experts said the underground lines of various utilities were passing under the service lane and Sharea Faisal and the grabbing of service lanes might affect any future activity to repair or change any of the utilities’ lines.
They said that in the present situation it was not possible to repair or replace any utility line and the only option left was to dig up Sharea Faisal for this purpose, which would result in a traffic mess.
The officials said the trend to grab the service lane should be stopped forthwith otherwise in the days to come the entire Sharea Faisal would be encroached.
Encroaching of service lanes and footpaths is also a common practice in the areas being controlled by the city government. However, there are several cases in which the department concerned of the city government took prompt action and dismantled the unauthorised structures.
The previous city government allowed construction of shops on bus stops on Sharea Faisal, which are still run by private parties.
