KARACHI, Oct 29: The 2.5-kilometre-long Sharea Orangi (from sector 12-C to Islam Chowk) has been in a dilapidated condition for the last four years, causing hardships to the passersby in general and motorists in particular.

Although the road’s reconstruction under the defunct KMC’s Long Life Project was initiated in the mid 1997 at an estimated cost of Rs30.5 million, the concerned authorities have failed to complete the work even after a lapse of about four years.

Councillors and residents of the locality said that in spite of the fact that the road’s reconstruction work was scheduled to be completed by the end of December 1997, the work on it was suspended more than two years back and as a result its condition further deteriorated.

They said that since the road has developed deep pot holes and craters, most public transporters usually take the alternative route i.e. either via sector 10 or Urdu Chowk, thereby denying public transport facilities to about 400,000 residents of sector 11-1/2 and its adjacent localities, who have no choice but to cover a long distance on foot for the facility of public transport from the alternative route.

They also regretted that two other main thoroughfares of the Township- Sharea Qaddafi and Sharea Maulana Shaukat Ali- were are also in such poor condition that commuters travelling in mini buses and coaches got heavy jerks owing to craters and deep potholes on them.

Besides, damage to vehicles taking these roads have become a matter of routine, they said.

They said the poor condition of Sharea Orangi had already claimed two precious lives in 1998, near a culvert situated adjacent to the head office of the defunct district municipal corporation (West).

They demanded of city Nazim to order the department concerned to restart the road’s reconstruction work without any further delay.