KARACHI, May 22: Piles of earth and gravel at several spans of the road running between Korangi Crossing and Daud Chowrangi are causing immense hardship to commuters as well as residents. This stretch of Korangi Road, officially known as the National Highway, is left dug up in the name of reconstruction by the city government. But, for unknown reasons the work has been at a standstill for several months. One explanation seems to be the raging controversy between the city government and the Sindh local government department over Karachi’s development projects whether they be completed before the local bodies elections or after them.

Initially the road had been cleared of encroachments, including wedding lawns’ extension onto the service road, and levelled, but parts of it remained untouched by the contractor supposed to be rebuilding it. A stretch of about a couple of hundred metres has even been paved, but is closed to movement of vehicles. Wherever the road is dug up, it creates bottlenecks and triggers prolonged and frequent traffic jams. This happens mainly at the two ends -– from Korangi Crossing to Korangi 2-1/2 and from Daud Chowrangi to Landhi 3-1/2.

Besides the numerous public vehicles tankers filling water at Chakra Goth also use the road and add to the problem.

Commuters of Korangi, Landhi and beyond suffer immensely throughout the day, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours, when vehicles from both sides lock horns in their attempt to rush through.

Several fatal accidents have taken place on this part of the road.

Some motorists move into the narrow streets and onto the parallel roads. But those roads, too, are narrow, potholed, damaged and in parts submerged under overflowing sewage.

Shopkeepers and residents around such places also suffer because of the dust raised by the vehicles. They want the road’s expansion completed as soon as possible. Even if the work resumes in earnest, it will take a long time to finish.

—Naseer Ahmad