Encroachments around Karachi-Hyderabad M-9 Motorway and starting point of Lyari Expressway show gross negligence of National Highway Authority (NHA) as well as KMC and traffic police, causing traffic jams and the authorities concerned should take immediate action to remove them, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman AltafShakoor here Sunday.He said that the M-9 area at Suhrab Goth area is a pure mess, showingtotal failure of the NHA, motorway police, as well as, KMC and local traffic police.
He said this area is the gateway to Karachi and itshould have displayed the proper face of the megacity but instead it isa jungle of encouragement, causing traffic jams.He said there are shanties and huts, shops of motor mechanics and illegal stands of dumpers and tractors, besides illegal private busterminals, tea shops, eateries and pushcart vendor markets. Even atraffic police establishment just at the beginning of the LyariExpressway has occupied a big portion of land as its compound.
He said a few years ago, the Sindh High Court had taken notice of theencroachments at Suhrab Goth and ordered to remove them, but thegovernment departments concerned simply ignored the orders of the SHC.Its proof could be seen anytime at the M-9 in Suhrab Goth and nearbyareas. He said in fact, the whole stretch of the M-9 from Suhrab Goth tothe Jamali Bridge is a heaven of encroachments of transporters, sand andgravel sellers, huts and shanties, shopkeepers and pushcart vendors.
He said ideally this gateway area of the megacity should display a lookof civic discipline and order but it looks just opposite. He said duringrush hours hundreds of vehicles remain stranded at the Lyari Expressway.He said though traffic police is posted in the area but they are moreconcerned about bribery than regulating traffic.He said anti- encroachment department dares not entering the area andremoving squatters.
He said this locality seems a no-go area for lawenforcers and city government officials. He said the concerned districtgovernment officers are also least concerned about the grave situation,despite the clear orders of the SHC regarding removal of encroachmentsfrom Suhrab Goth area on the Superhighway.
He said sadly sideline roads for non-motorway traffic are incomplete inthis area and all sorts of traffic including donkey carts also ply onthe main M-9 Motorway in this area, which shows who traffic police andNHA perform their duties or otherwise.
