The elevated Lyari Expressway has been touted as a solution to Karachi’s ever worsening traffic woes. It is an elevated signal free expressway that would connect Sohrab Goth to District West of the city.
The 16.5 kilometre, eight-lane expressway was started in 2001 but has been stuck in the doldrums since 2004 due to a chronic lack of funds and other technical difficulties. Currently, only a 2.2-kilometre-long portion of the northbound track remains unfinished.
“The main hindrance in the completion of the Lyari expressway was the rehabilitation of the affected people,” explained Karachi commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui. “Now, the federal government has released Rs200 million for the purpose.” The commissioner added that a grant of Rs500 million will be released after the completion of the resettlement so that the National Highway Authority can restart the construction.
Siddiqui said the project will greatly benefit from the government’s concerted efforts to improve the traffic system in the city. “All relevant departments and agencies should play their role in realising this dream so that the project is completed as soon as possible,” he said.
The Lyari Expressway project was started in 2002 but has hit major snags on the way due to the shortage of funds needed to resettle the affected families. The southbound section of the expressway, from Sohrab Goth to Mauripur Road, has already been completed and is now in use.
District East additional deputy commissioner Syed Shujat Hussain, who is part of the rehabilitation process being conducted by the commissioner’s office, said that the Lyari Development Authority and the Malir Development Authority, have also been directed to procure land for the resettlement. “We are preparing a new list of the evacuees as the previous one has been canceled,” he said.
“Each affected person will get Rs50,000 and an 80-square-yard plot as compensation,” he said, adding that it has also been decided to complete the resettlement work by June 3.
The project was initially scheduled to be completed by December 2009 but work was stopped after the completion of approximately 67 per cent of the highway. It will have two interchanges, five overpasses and five underpasses. Once complete, the traffic volume is estimated at 34,000 vehicles daily as of now.
