The Karachi City District Government on Saturday began work on the main road linking Nazimabad with Gharibabad, a stretch of three kilometers, without arranging alternative route for the heavy vehicular traffic from the port area and uses this patch of road to reach the main Super Highway.
Heavy traffic jams were seen on Saturday afternoon over this section of the road as traffic police personnel remained sidelined and public transport drivers paid little heed to their efforts.
The digging of this road is fifth major roadwork that has been initiated by the CDGK in total disregard of public convenience. M A Jinnah Road connecting Mazar-e-Quaid with Karachi Central Jail, Isa Nagri-Gharibabad Road, Gharibabad-Nazimabad Road, Nazimabad-Site Road and TV Station-National Stadium section of the main road are some of the roads under construction/repair.
CDGK sources said that construction/repair works of these roads were long overdue but the issuance of work orders in quick succession had created some confusion.
They said that the inconvenience because of the construction of roads was regretted but people should realise the kind of comfort it would bring to them when all roads had been repaired/constructed.
There is another point of view prevalent in the CDGK looking at these works with suspicion. In their opinion roads under construction were in good condition and had no room for further widening. All services were underground and were without any defect, they said.
They doubt the motives and question all tendering and contract awarding procedures.
They said that in the case of M A Jinnah Road-Jail Road construction PIA had to bear the cost of construction but it company backed out as the contract was awarded without its consent. "The work is suspended for this reason," they added.
They said that the contractors were paid advance mobilisation funds Rs 15 million by the CDGK in haste.
After the utilisation of mobilisation funds the contractors have stopped further work on the road and are still waiting for formal approval of contract and release of funds so that work could be started. Sources are doubtful about the completion of ongoing road construction in time.