KARACHI, Jan 22: The fast deteriorating condition of several bridges on Lyari riverbed has been causing grave concern among the frequent users of these facilities. The users — commuters, pedestrians and the residents of nearby localities — have constantly been trying to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the dilapidation of Mewa Shah, Shershah and Old Dhobi Ghat bridges which have been losing their essential strength day by day.

Built to link Site town directly with Lyari town and indirectly with the all the other ones, the bridge cater to the needs of hundreds of thousands of people who shuttle between the two ends of the city as a routine. A significantly large number of these beneficiaries is the participants of funeral convoys as Site town houses two major and ancient graveyards — Mewa Shah and Mororro — besides most of the city’s industrial units and numerous residential and commercial localities.

Due to the rapid growth of population and remarkably expeditious trade, industrial and commercial activities in the city, particularly in Lyari and Site towns, over the past few decades, the bridges have been facing an immense and ever increasing pressure of commuters and other users. The pressure seems to be beyond the sustainability level estimated at the time of their construction.

Another factor contributing greatly to the decay, is the lack of interest on the part of successive governments in the maintenance work.

As such, cracks have developed at different places in these bridges. The Engineering Department of Lyari Town administration had conducted a survey of the bridges recently and was convinced that an immediate and thorough repair was needed. The survey team found that railings of the bridges had fallen down at different sections whereas cavities, potholes and uprooted bricks and plaster had turned the roads and pavements uneven and bumpy. The team also noted that underground and overhead power supply cables as well as poles had been damaged.

The engineers’ team had suggested recarpeting of roads and all necessary repairs to be carried out to ensure a smooth, unhindered and easy movement of commuters and pedestrians using the bridges without fearing any tragic incident.

After the introduction of local government system, the responsibility of developing, maintaining and repairing the bridges has been retained by the City Government which is yet to pay attention to this urgently needed work.

There had been many protest demonstrations in the past against the lethargy of different city administrations in carrying out repair work on the bridges but, as several NGOs and other organizations pointed out, the public resentment had failed to change the indifferent attitude of the relevant authorities.

The municipal administration of Lyari Town has now urged the city government to act before the occurrence any untoward incident.

Some dejected social workers remarked that although development work under the newly-elected local government officials was in full swing, it seemed that they, too, had opted for the further development of some selected areas and thus ignoring Lyari and Site towns like their predecessors.