KARACHI, April 7: The Malir Town administration has finally decided to construct a major three-km long dual carriageway from the Malir-15 bus stop to Saudabad Chowrangi after persistent demand of a vast population living in Khokhrapar, Jinnah Square, Jafar Tayyar, etc.

Due to the reduced width of the present single road, accidents have occurred in the past taking many precious lives, while traffic jams also occur at a number of spots.

The road will be a 42-feet double one, with each track being 20 feet wide. There will also be a two-foot green-belt.

The project comprises reconstruction of a double road, with 400,000 sq-ft carpeting, fixation of footpath and green-belt curb stones, improvement/conversion of a 10,000-ft open storm-water drain into a piped drain using a 30 sq-feet pipe, which will also form part of the road. The present width of the drain is seven ft. The road will also have 163 manholes and chambers.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs52.7 million. According to the break-up, road reconstruction will cost Rs35 million while conversion of the drain into a covered one will cost Rs17.7 million.

However, a major task before the town administration will be to remove hurdles ie encroachments in the shape of shops and houses in the way of the road’s construction.

“It is yet to be seen how the administration will move against those who have been doing business on government land for a long time,” said an area resident.

A survey revealed that houses and shops had been built along the Malir City Road, right from Malir-15 bus stop to Saudabad roundabout. Even shops and hotels exist there. In order to ensure proper width of the road, all such encroachments will have to be removed.

Area residents have hailed the announcement of the road’s construction and have demanded that encroachments should be removed at all cost. Besides, a 6-ft footpath should also be ensured on both sides of the road for the convenience of pedestrians so accidents can be reduced.

People said the town administration had favoured shopkeepers during construction of a portion of the Begum Khursheed Road at Tanki stop and did not remove encroachments from the footpath. Similarly, the town administration had left no space for footpath on the other track, which may result in accidents.