Signal-free corridors cause inconvenience to pedestrians

November 03, 2012

RECORDER REPORT

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Though the signal free "corridors" in the city, made by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) have minimised the traffic problems on some main roads, but they have also created immense problem for the pedestrians who have to cross the busy roads.

Several precious lives have so far been lost in road accident on these corridors due to high speed in the traffic flow. People especially children, aged men and women and people with disabilities were the main sufferers on these roads, who have had to wait for a couple of minutes to take a chance and cross the road.

Although pedestrian bridges have been installed at various junctions to facilitate people in crossing the busy roads, the public, mostly the youngsters, are seen ignoring the bridges and prefer to cross the roads. Just to save time, they put their lives in danger. They also jump over the barriers constructed by the government to stop them from crossing the busy roads and to compel them to avail the nearby pedestrian bridge.

At the Nipa Chowrangi, the bars have been repaired many times by the concerned authorities but people still jump over the barriers, damaging them at various points. This practice persists despite the facility of the bridge, which lets them cross the main University Road. According to sources, City Wardens of the KMC, who were basically recruited to protect the city infrastructures from such damage, should be given the task of saving the bars installed on the green belts of the main roads.

Besides, they said that the overhead bridges made by city government were not sufficient to facilitate the pedestrians as there were only a dozen bridges on the whole corridor, leaving the people of the rest of the area with no choice but to cross the road, stopping the speeding vehicles. "All other bridges have also been made on such a location that most people avoid walking the long way as well climbing the stairs," they alleged.

Beside the difficulties that the people face on these corridors, the overhead bridges at locations like the Two Minute Chowrangi, 5C-4, UP Morh and Nagan Chowrangi in the Nazimababd area have been built without considering the high-tension wires of the KESC. These pass over these bridges dangerously close.

The faulty planning and lack of precautionary measures on the bridges might cause the loss of human lives as both the KMC as well as the private company sponsoring the bridge, were not considering the risk factors involved. According to sources many of the overhead bridges were being constructed on a BOT basis. This included the bridge on Shahrah-e-Faisal near Lal Khoti Bus Stop, Sharah-e-Faisal near Kawish Crown Plaza, Sharah-e Faisal near Awami Markaz, Sharah-e Faisal near Colony Bus Stop, Shaheed-e-Millat near Bohri Masjid, Sher Shah Soori Road near Golden Gate Bus Stop, Road 5000 Shahdman NO-1, University Road near Edhi Centre etc.

Beside bridges at Sharah-e-Faisal near FTC, Sir Shah Suleman Road near Karim Plaza, Sir Shah Suleman Road near Essa Nagri, Sir Shah Suleman Road Baloch Hotel 15 Hakim Ibn-e-Seena Road near Gharibabad, 16 Hakim lbn-e-Seena Road near Sharifabad, Hakim Ibn-e-Seena Road near Liaquatabad NO-4, Hakim lbn-e-Seena Road near Liaquatabad Town Office atc were made by the government. The overhead bridges were also made at Preedy Street between Saddar Dawakhana & Parking Plaza, Preedy Street / Nizami Road, New M.A Jinnah Road Near Islamia College, New M.A Jinnha Road Near Hyderabad Colony, University Road Near PIB Pumping Station, University Road Near Mumtaz Manzil, University Road Near Baitul Mukarram Masjid, University Road Near Ibn-e-Seena Hospital, University Road Near Safari Park / Samama Shopping Mall, University Road Near NED Gate, University Road Near Mosamiyat / Safoora Chowk, Sharea Faisal near Star Gate etc. According to official sources at the Transport Department of the KMC, over 88 pedestrian bridges were present in the city while the bridges that are being constructed are at 11 selected locations.