Heavy traffic to be shifted to Lyari Expressway

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that in the light of a positive third-party report, measures would be taken to immediately shift heavy traffic to the Lyari Expressway, which would bring improvement in the flow of traffic on the city’s roads.

In a meeting he chaired at his office on Friday, Wahab said the city's roads cannot sustain continuous pressure from heavy traffic. During the meeting, a detailed assessment was conducted regarding various aspects of utilising the Lyari Expressway effectively to improve traffic flow on the city’s key roads.

The mayor emphasised the necessity of organising traffic on the city’s important roads in an orderly manner due to the increasing traffic challenges. He highlighted that the existing infrastructure must be optimally utilised to avoid traffic mismanagement in the city.

He mentioned that diverting heavy traffic to the Lyari Expressway would enhance traffic flow in the city and reduce congestion on other roads. A relevant third-party report outlining future action plans will be compiled by Thursday.

He suggested that the implementation of a dedicated system on the Lyari Expressway during the morning hours and the evening hours can also be beneficial.

He expressed concerns over the adverse impact of heavy traffic on roads from Malir to Landhi due to traffic jams, affecting not only the valuable time and fuel of the people but also raising environmental concerns.

He proposed that the Lyari Expressway can potentially offer the best solution for managing heavy traffic in Karachi, given its status of a major port city where commercial vehicles, heavy trailers and trucks operate round the year, particularly around port areas and highways leading in and out of the metropolis.

He assured ongoing coordination with federal and subordinate authorities to address the heavy traffic challenges effectively, with the meeting focusing on the immediate steps to be taken to improve the situation promptly.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the National Highway Authority, the Karachi Port Trust and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). KMC Municipal Commissioner SM Afzal Zaidi and other officers were also present on the occasion.