KARACHI, July 30: The Rs 7.9 billion Lyari Expressway is aimed at providing high speed access to vehicular traffic of the city, and also to provide better and safe living conditions to about 150,000 inhabitants residing in the river-bed or its banks by relocating them to safer places.

Stating this in a briefing for Governor of Sindh, the National Highway Authority referred to 10 per cent increase per year in vehicular traffic in Karachi which, they said, faces limitations of signalized intersections while existing network of arterial roads had already saturated which is evident from serious traffic congestions in city throughout the day.

The problem, they said, gave rise to the need for a network of controlled access highways to Karachi which exist in cities of its size throughout the world.

This would fulfil the 14-year-old dream of city fathers and planners in facilitating the people through Lyari Expressway.

The NHA authorities said as per their study, the project is economically justified. It will also provide a high service level to city and national transport and provide relief to transporters, commuters and the ports.—APP