KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the top local government officials to appear before it to file comments with a detailed progress report on the “slow pace” of renovation work on major portions of University Road — one stretching from Hasan Square to the Nipa traffic intersection and the other from NED University to Safoora Chowrangi.

Headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar, a division bench was hearing a constitutional petition that alleged that the development work was being carried out in a woefully slow manner on portions of University Road and Shaheed-i-Millat Road.

The bench also put the advocate general, DIG traffic, chief secretary, commissioner of Karachi and the deputy commissioner (east) on notice, directing them to file their respective comments by March 9 when the court would again take up the matter.

The judges also directed the local government secretary to furnish a detailed progress report on the contracts awarded in that regard.

The petition was filed by Rizwan, a resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, against the provincial authorities for the slow pace in completion of the renovation work of roads, started by the provincial government under 2016’s ‘Karachi Package’.

He submitted that the progress of the Rs884.23 million University Road renovation from Hasan Square to Nipa was very slow as just 10 per cent of the work had been completed whereas the road from NED University to Safoora Chowrangi, which will cost Rs832m, had attained only 12pc progress.

Similarly, the petitioner said the construction of Shaheed-i-Millat Road to Shahrah-i-Quaideen that cost Rs569.81m was only 15pc complete.

He submitted in his petition that there were six educational institutions on University Road and many hospitals could also be reached via this road, but due to the slow progress, students, patients and their attendants suffered.

The petitioner said the citizens faced a great deal of hardship due to traffic congestion while going to work and coming back home as the work was being carried out from 9am to 5pm.

He also called into question the material being used in the project and submitted that it had been noticed earlier that newly-built roads developed craters just after one rain shower.

The petitioner asked the court to direct the respondents to incorporate the Pakistan Engineering Council to oversee the project to ensure that work was carried out with the best material. He said the taxpayers’ money was being used in the project and it should be done in a transparent manner.

He further asked the court to direct the government to expedite the work on the project and carry it out round-the-clock and seven days a week.

The court was further requested to direct the traffic police to effectively handle traffic congestion and to provide an alternative plan and diversion during the renovation work.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2017