The experts, representatives of the civil society and traders and other stakeholders have suggested the government to construct expressway instead of proposed motorway (M-9) between Karachi and Hyderabad in order to avoid demolition of petrol pumps, gas stations, restaurants and other trading shops along the highway.
As a result of demolition of petrol pumps, gas stations and restaurants for construction of Motorway, scores of people could not only deprive employment opportunities, but the residential colonies would also experiences numerous issues, they expressed these views during public hearing, conducted by Environment Protection Agency Hyderabad Region here on Wednesday.
The public hearing was organized in order to get the views from the stakeholders regarding environmental affect as a result of the construction of Motorway between Karachi and Hyderabad. Chakar Khan Shoro and Badal Khan Palari, the representatives of Shoro and Palari communities of Louni Kot said that as a result of conversion of Super Highway from Motorway, thousands of the local people of the area will be affected because at the one side of highway, they are residing while the other side, they have their agricultural fields and ancestral graveyards. With the construction of Motorway, they said that local population could cross the Motorway through interchanges and flyovers which to be constructed at every 40 kilometers of the Motorway. The construction of Motorway will also affect the wildlife of the area, they said.
The social issues have been neglected while preparing the feasibility report of Motorway, the said and claimed that it is against the international rules for construction of any mega project. The representatives of petrol pumps, gas stations, restaurants, workshops and other trading shops with completion of the proposed projects, thousands of workers could become jobless.
They suggested the continuation of status of Super Highway with construction of two additional carriages in order to avert such unemployment. The pointed out that no indication was made in the feasibility report regarding alternate route in proposed Motorway in case of occurrence of major accident or collapse of flyover or bridge.
The Project Director Motorway M-9 Jamal Yousuf while speaking on the occasion said that the government has planned to convert Four Lane Super Highway into Six Lane Motorway from Hyderabad to Karachi in order to provide advanced communication facilities to commuters. He termed the project as important for the country and said that after completion, it will provide many benefits to the people including promotion of trade activities.
Responding the objection of the representatives of the local population, he informed that flyovers have been proposed at every 15 to 17 kilometers and the issues of local population were not neglected in the feasibility. The pedestrians flyovers including passage for motorcyclists and construction of footpaths are also incorporated in the feasibility of M-9 Project, he added.
He informed that installation of iron grills have been proposed along the proposed Motorways in order to avert any incident. He informed that the process of conducting public hearing is in progress in order to remove the reservations of the local population and in this connection, the NHA conducted such programmes in Karachi, Dumba Goth and Edhi Centres. The project will be implemented after removal of all reservations from the local population, he assured.
The representative of the firm, engaged for construction of Motorway informed the participants that the project has been handed over to the company on January 16, 2012 and he assured that the project will be completed with the consultation of all stakeholders.
