Karachi:A crucial highway bridge of the megacity awaits carpeting for more than a year, but the relevant authorities have turned the blind eye to this issue, which could result into fatal accidents and human tragedies.
One track of the bridge of Superhighway/M-9 over the Lyari River near Suhrab Goth leading from Suhrab Goth to Yousuf Plaza direction has gone broken and pot-holed and is want of carpeting on emergency basis. The railing along footpath on this track has also broken and pedestrians walking on footpath could easily fall into the Lyari River due to absence of protective railings, but the federal, provincial and city government and their concerned road departments are apathetic towards this serious life threats to hundreds of thousands of motorists, commuters and pedestrians using this crucial bridge on daily basis.
This bridge at Suhrab Goth is the gateway to Karachi and its dilapidated and neglected condition offers a sorry look and strong of bad governance in the megacity which is the capital of province of Sindh. The government of Sindh is not interested to improve its image and make this gateway of Karachi, a well-managed, clean and civilized area. Not only this crucial bridge tack needs repair and re-carpeting on emergency basis, but this whole area needs a serious face-lifting. The highway from Yusuf Plaza to the first round-about of M-9, and ramps of the flyover of Suhrab Goth should be repaired re-carpeted on priority. Truckloads of dirt and garbage piled on this section of highway, besides a large number encroachments and a newly emerging shanti-town near the first round-about of the M-9 near Suhrab Goth should be removed.
The available spaces at the junctions of M-9 to Lyari Expressway are presently garbage dumping sites, which should be turned to into paved parking areas, gas stations and green parks.
This busy highway also needs several U-turns and overhead pedestrian bridges as presently people cross this speedy motorway in very dangerous manner risking their life and limbs. It is the responsibility of the federal, provincial and city governments to save from these serious life risks, by making the starting phase of M-9/Superhighway as a safe and secure road.
Presently, the crucial Suhrab Goth bridge is a death trap for drivers, commuters and pedestrians and Prime Minister Imran Khan, federal communication minister Murad Saeed, chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Captain (retd) Sikander Qayoom, Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and Mayor Waseem Akhter should take urgent notice of this very serious matter and ensure that this death-trap bridge is repaired on emergency basis.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has always shown keen interest in the issues of megacity Karachi. He should instruct Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to personally inspect this dangerous bridge and allocate special funds for its urgent repair and re-carpeting if the federal and city governments are not serious to resolving the sufferings of the citizens of Karachi.