KARACHI, March 27: The transport and communications department of the City District would erect 10 pedestrian bridges in Karachi by next financial year to contain the increasing number of road accidents as a total of 2,799 casualties were reported during the last five years in which 1,776 pedestrians were killed.

Sources said a total of 5,606 road accidents were reported in Karachi during the last five years in which 7,568 casualties were reported and 3,134 people were killed, out of which 2,593 (46 per cent) were pedestrians.

Statistics show that the involvement of pedestrians in road accidents was very high during the last five years.

It is an irony that the authorities took the decision only after loss of precious lives, which could have been saved if decisions were taken as a preventive measure.

This alarming situation necessitates complete segregation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic at locations critical for pedestrians flow and occurrence of accidents. Therefore, the TCD decided to erect 10 new pedestrians bridges in various areas of the city.

Sources said pedestrians are the most important group of road users and it is essential to consider their presence and needs while designing road facilities.

Pedestrians’ movement has a direct impact and conflict between pedestrian and vehicles.

Sources said road accidents are also a parameter to ascertain provision for use of pedestrian facility. Road accident statistics indicate that the involvement of pedestrians in road accidents remained very high during last five years, thus the transport and communications department carried out a pedestrian count survey to ascertain the kind of pedestrian facility on the following locations.

Sharea Faisal near Drig Road Railway Station, Shahrah-i-Pakistan near Nasirabad bus stop, University Road near Urdu Science College, Sharea Faisal near Lal Kothi, National Highway near Chota Gate, Rashid Minhas Road near Aladin Park, Sher Shah Soori Road near Golden Gate bus stop, Sharea Faisal near Pir Bukhari, Shahrah-i-Quaideen near Mazar-i-Quaid are the locations where the authorities propose to construct pedestrian bridges.—PPI