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| Northbound track devoid of safety measures |
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Monday, October 19, 2009
By Gibran Ashraf
Karachi
The northbound track of the Lyari Expressway is devoid of any safety measures, including traffic signs or street lights, and thus poses immense risk to vehicles and residents of adjoining areas, The News has observed.
Only a portion of the northbound track was inaugurated in June 2009. The 5.5-kilometre-long road, which stretched from Sir Shah Suleman Interchange to Sohrab Goth, however was opened without adequate attention to road essentials, including street lights and traffic signs.
Due to infrequent traffic on the northbound track, children of neighbouring localities use the high-speed thoroughfare as a play ground, while pedestrians cross over from one side to the other at will. Corners and bends of the track also serve as a dump for debris. By its very nature, vehicles move at a higher speed than on normal roads on this track. Having no street lights coupled with debris on either side of the road and sharp bends create a recipe for disaster.
On its part, the National Highway Authority (NHA) seems to have made little effort to ensure signage and lights on the expressway. Instead, the NHA seems to have engrossed itself only in the business of completing the construction of the remaining part of the Expressway.
National Highways and Motorway police have been critical of the policies of the NHA. Motorway Police South Zone DIG told The News that the motorway police often have to move and help reduce the congestion at the entrance and exits of the Expressway. “We have had a lot of meetings with NHA officials, and have reiterated to them the importance of completion of signage and street lights, and every time we are told that the NHA is working on it,” the DIG said.
However the troubles with the northbound track do not end here. The exit point of the Lyari Expressway used to be a route to the inter-city bus stand. With the construction of the causeways, the stand was demolished and a consolidated bus stand was made further down the road. However, the buses that would use the old bus stand now have taken up a spot under the overpass near the Expressway, taking a route that directly cuts across the exit creating traffic congestion for the cars that wish to get off the expressway.
The DIG also said that the jurisdiction of the Motorway police is restricted to traffic violations on the motorway. “We cannot even arrest someone if they are moving arms and ammunition, or narcotics in their vehicles; our jurisdiction extends only to inform the Police or Rangers and lodge a formal FIR,” he said.
Regarding patrolling on the northbound track and helping motorists avoid children, and other pedestrians, the DIG said that they face pressure from the public if they place a mobile van on the road. He added that there is hardly any traffic on northbound track, with only two or three cars passing by in an hour as compared to the southbound track, where heavy traffic is seen.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
