KARACHI, Aug 1: The next phase of removing encroachments from the Love Lane to Lasbella Bridges would begin in the next few days to pave the way for the alignment of the much-delayed but vital Lyari Expressway.

City Nazim Naimatullah Khan stated this at a ceremony held on Thursday to hand over cheques and allotment orders to another batch of 117 people to be displaced by the project. Khan said that the project, on its completion in about three years, will provide a separate motorway to heavy vehicular traffic, which will either originate at Karachi port or enter the city through the Super Highway to proceed towards the port.

All those being evacuated from the project’s site are being given alternative plots (each measuring 80 square yards) at Hawkesbay, Baldia and Surjani Towns, he said, adding that the compensatory amount was being given prior to demolishing their kutcha/pucca houses, so that they could get sufficient time for removing their belongings.

The Rs 5 billion Lyari Expressway, which was being constructed along the Lyari River belt (from Mauripur to Sohrab Goth) will have a dual carriage way, each having a width of 30 metres. There will also be fencing on either side of the river as a safeguard for vehicular traffic and to prevent encroachments along the river.

Giving details, he said that of the total 117 residents whose houses would be demolished, 95 were residing in between Love Lane and Badshahi bridges, commonly known as Dhobi Ghat, 17 were the residents of Niazi Colony and the remaining five belonged to Shershah’s Akbar Road.

Khan pointed out that Shershah’s 231 residents, Niazi Colony’s 92 and 40 of Badshahi Bridge had already been given cheques of the compensatory amount as well as allotment orders of their plots.

The ongoing operation of removing encroachments is aimed at retrieving over 255 acres of land meant for the 16.5 km long Lyari Expressway.