The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) is going to construct 15 pedestrian bridges at different spots of the metropolis from its own resources, including one on Shahra-e-Faisal, after revoking the agreement of a private firm due to delay in construction of several pedestrian bridges.
The CDGK has taken up the issue of construction of the 15 pedestrian bridges at its own in order to facilitate the general public. A private firm, Universal Graphics, was previously sponsoring the construction of seven bridges at different spots of the city.
The construction of these pedestrian bridges will be undertaken at Alladin Park, Ancholi, F.B. Area, Muhammadi School on National Highway, Karimabad Flat, Shahra-e-Pakistan, Al-Asif Square, Super Highway, Nawab Siddiq Ali Khan Road, Wazir Mansion, Lyari Railway Station, Guru Mandir and M.A. Jinnah Road near Capri Cinema, besides at FTC, Shahra-e-Faisal, a CDGK official said.
Earlier, according to the CDGK officials, former CDGK Nazim Naimatullah Khan and four private firms, including Universal Graphics, United Construction, Armida International and Gujrat Steel, had entered into an agreement with the city government for construction of 28 pedestrian bridges at different spots of the metropolis on Built Operate Transfer (BOT) basis in October 2004.
According to the agreement, each entrepreneur was assigned the construction of seven pedestrian bridges and one each on Shahra-e-Faisal, including FTC, Lal Kothi, Duty Free Shop near Awami Markaz and Shah Faisal Colony Gate. Each private entrepreneur was required to use pedestrian bridges for 10 years for advertisement purposes and in this regard the CDGK would give them rebate on taxes.
Construction of four pedestrian bridges at different spots on Shahra-e-Faisal, including Shah Faisal Colony Gate, Lal Kothi and Duty Free Shop, are being done by the remaining three private entrepreneurs, while one at FTC is being constructed by the CDGK itself.
Work on the construction of pedestrian bridges at other four identified locations of the metropolis, including 2K Bus Stop at Sakhi Hassan, Golden Gate Bus Stop, Inquiry Office and Nazimabad will soon be initiated by the private entrepreneurs.
The officials said that the construction of pedestrian bridges has become inevitable with the rapid growth in traffic population with each passing day, which is a big cause of traffic accidents, metropolis has witnessed in recent years.
The city government, the officials said, has chalked out the plan along various other traffic management projects to streamline traffic system of the city with more facilities for pedestrians.