MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM- LONG TERM SOLUTION TO TRAFFIC PROBLEMS.

22 Apr 2009:

Karachi Apr 22: Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the long term solution to traffic problems in Karachi lies in the Mass Transit System without which the city would have worst condition in terms of traffic after 8 to 10 years.

He expressed these views while addressing a meeting at his office on Wednesday to review the pace of work on development projects currently going on in the city and also to discuss future strategies for development activities.

Nazim Karachi on this occasion noted that the system of signal free corridors inducted recently in Karachi could only run the city for a maximum of 10 years after which it would need a mass transit system like other mega cities of the world.

He said that three years ago Karachi was facing much trouble due to regular traffic jam on nearly all main and subsidiary arteries. Haq Parast City Government introduced a new concept of signal free corridors to solve this problem in least time. These corridors were constructed rapidly and they helped in the resolution of traffic problems up to a large extent but the same is not enough to correct the traffic system of a mega city like Karachi.

Nazim Karachi said that the only solution to traffic problems in Karachi lies in the Mass Transit System on which we will have to work from today.

Reviewing ongoing projects he said that the journey of development must continue as the city is facing regular increase in the population and any halt in this development process will create more problems for Karachi and ultimately for the whole country.

Regarding water and sewerage projects, he said that city government had carried out water and sewerage works in all areas of city especially in all 4 industrial zones to provide better infrastructure to residents and factory owners.

Nazim Karachi said that our endeavors had been appreciated on international level too. He further said that like other mega cities of the world, Karachi also did not have any nearby river due to which it had been facing shortage of water. City Government has made many projects to solve this problem including the installation of desalination plants while it had also got the approval for a Rs.8 billion worth sewage treatment plant in Karachi.

He said that in order to complete development projects in city we recovered billions of rupees from the defaulters and used this amount on the rapid completion of development projects. He however, directed the officers of Revenue Department to take further measures for improvement in the recovery condition.

Nazim Karachi said that we did not imposed infrastructure tax in the very first year of our tenure in city government but worked for three years and laid the basic infrastructure for citizens after which we went to citizens and said to them that these projects belongs to them and therefore they should own them and support city government in the maintenance of these projects.

CORRIDOR-III TO SOLVE 80 PERCENT TRAFFIC PROBLEMS.

17 Apr 2009:

Karachi Apr 17: Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has directed Works & Services Department to ensure speedy completion of all projects of corridor-III so that the project could be completed and opened for traffic within next 2 to two and half months.

He was reviewing the pace of work on the construction of Preedy Street and Jail Chowrangi Flyover during a visit on Friday.

City Nazim on this occasion instructed concerned officials to finish the work on Jail Chowrangi, Kashmir Road loop and Shaheed-e-Millat Ramp quickly so that the whole corridor could be opened for traffic simultaneously.

He said that 80 percent traffic problems of city will be solved after completion of this 18 km long corridor from Saddar to Malir Cantt.

Nazim Karachi also directed EDO Works & Services to submit daily report of the work on all projects of corridor-III. He also instructed to take action against the concerned contractor firm, consultant and project director in case the report was not found satisfactory.

During a briefing on this occasion Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal was informed that already 45 percent work on Preedy Street has been completed while the work of Jail Chowrangi Flyover is also 40 percent complete and both the projects will be opened for traffic after their completion in next two months.

This may be noted that the under construction signal free corridor-III will have four flyovers at different junctions between Saddar and Malir Cantt. The corridor will have a length of 18km and 13.85meter width with 4 lane road. Service Roads will also be constructed on both sides of this corridor.

City District Government Karachi will spend an estimated Rs.2.25billion on this project which is expected to prove an alternative to Shahrea Faisal and M. A Jinnah Road.
The corridor will also have 10 pedestrian bridges and 23 modern bus stops for convenience of citizens. Street lights and storm water drainage system will also be installed on this corridor.