• Green Line extension work, poor traffic management leaves little space for vehicles
• Commuters fear only narrow carriageways will be left for traffic once BRT is completed

KARACHI: Traffic congestion on M.A. Jinnah Road, one of busiest arteries of the city, has worsened significantly over the past few months due to ongoing construction of the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit extension (BRT) project, encroachments on both tracks of the road and poor traffic management. Because of these factors very little space has been left for vehicles to pass along the road, making the daily commute unbearable for tens of thousands of citizens.

The traffic issues worsened following the commencement of the Green Line extension from Numaish to the Municipal Park. The construction work in the centre of the road has reduced the available carriageway on both sides. However, encroachments have compounded the problem and turned the routine commute into lengthy ordeals for people.

The problem begins from Naz Plaza and Amma Tower Mobile Market, where motorcycles are routinely parked on M.A. Jinnah Road in double rows.

Moreover, roadside eateries have placed chairs for customers in the same row. Due to that, at this intersection of the road, only enough space remains for a single bus to pass.

Further ahead, near the auto parts market opposite Plaza, motorists face another bottleneck. Several months ago, authorities had carried out an anti-encroachment operation in the area and sealed many shops, which were de-sealed after officials obtained “assurances” from the shopkeepers that they would no longer occupy the roads. However, vehicles have once again spilled onto the roadway, with car repair work ongoing daily.

A similar situation exists outside the former Radio Pakistan building, where cars are routinely parked along the main road.

All of this leaves little space for road users and contributes to daily traffic jams. As a result, journeys that earlier took only a few minutes now take considerably more time.

A similar situation exists at the Light House signal, where pushcarts selling shoes and sneakers have occupied most of the key thoroughfare.

Commuters say that travelling from Numaish to Jodia Bazaar, a trip that previously took around 10 minutes, now regularly takes between 30 and 35 minutes. Likewise, the commute from Numaish to Tower, which once required 20 to 25 minutes, now takes between 45 and 50 minutes.

Speaking to Dawn, one car driver described the situation as unbearable. “The condition on this road is extremely bad. I do not even feel like driving through M.A. Jinnah Road anymore, but I have no choice because my job requires me to use this route every day. The traffic jams have become a major source of inconvenience and result in a significant waste of time,” he said.

He also questioned why no one was taking any action over the vehicles parked along the road. “The government does everything for money and its own benefit. The authorities must be getting some monetary benefit; that’s why they don’t take action.”

Another commuter said that he used this route every day to get to his office near I.I. Chundrigar Road. “Previously, the journey would take no more than 15 minutes. Now a 30-minute commute has become routine, and when traffic builds up, it can take as long as 45 minutes,” he said, adding that the situation caused considerable frustration.

“I am extremely concerned about the future of M.A. Jinnah Road. In my view, the road has been destroyed from a traffic-management perspective. This is one of the city’s major arteries, yet there appears to be little attention being paid to the issue by the mayor, the provincial government, the local government or the relevant town administration. I cannot see how traffic flow will improve even after the Green Line extension work is completed.”

Another city resident criticised the authorities’ handling of the road has been destroyed from a traffic-management perspective. This is one of the city’s major arteries, yet there appears to be little attention being paid to the issue by the mayor, the provincial government, the local government or the relevant town administration. I cannot see how traffic flow will improve even after the Green Line extension work is completed.”

Another city resident criticised the authorities’ handling of Karachi’s affairs and questioned the pace of work on the Green Line extension project. “If you compare the situation with Lahore, visible improvements have been made there within a relatively short period. In Karachi, however, even basic issues like road and traffic remain unresolved,” he said.

Commenting on the Green Line extension project, he added: “Very few workers appear to be engaged at the construction site. Small private contractors often seem to complete their projects faster than what we are seeing here. Considering that this is a major infrastructure project, work should be progressing much more rapidly.”

He argued that the problem extended beyond M.A. Jinnah Road itself.

“This is not just an M.A. Jinnah Road issue. Traffic management on connecting roads is equally poor, and traffic police personnel are rarely visible. Unfortunately, nobody appears to be concerned about the hardships faced by ordinary citizens. Every day I have to travel through severe congestion, and by the time I reach my office I have already gone through a mentally exhausting experience.”

When Dawn reached out to South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso and asked him what action the district authorities intended to take in this regard, he said: “We’re working on it.”

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026