KARACHI, July 14: The residents of Baghdadi area in Lyari Town have expressed great concern over the deteriorating conditions of the Shah Latif Bhittai Road and urged the agencies concerned to take early steps for repair works.

The residents have complained that the road has changed into ruins due to the passing of heavy traffic round the clock. As a result potholes have developed at various points of the road, creating obstruction in the flow of traffic. The Bhittai Road is one of the busiest road linking the town with Kharadar and Mithadar and parts of Saddar Town. Its one section starts from the Janbai Hospital, Kharadar, and ends at Bihar Colony. It also connects Lyari Town with the Mauripur Road via Fidha Husain Shaika Road, Lea Market, via Mir Mohammad Baloch Road and D.D Chaudhry Road and Chawkiwara via Haji Pir Mohammad Road. It is an important artery in the town because major public vehicles ply this route. In case of any disturbances or traffic jams on the Mauirpur Road, motorists and transporters always use this route to reach the KPT and West Wharf. Lyari Town’s important buildings and localities such as the Agha Khan Hospital, the Lyari Technical School and the Mono technical institute are situated on this route.

The Baghdadi and Kalri Police stations and some important government institutions colleges, schools are also situated on this route.

The residents said that the defective sewerage system was also one the factors responsible for the damage as the water from drains flew on the road. For the past two weeks stinking water from chocked gutter lines has flooded the portion of the road in front of the Baghdadi and Kalri police stations.

One of the civic agencies has recently carried out digging work on it to lay new water pipelines. It has further added to people’s misery as in some places cracks have appeared in these lines. Due to seepage, sewage has mixed up with water lines and people are forced to use contaminated water.

During a survey, the residents also criticized public representatives who, they said, made tall claims at the time of elections season, but neglected the basic problems of the common man after coming to power.