Increasing number of illegal auto workshops, car dealers, illegal encroachments, parking service lots and fruit sellers occupying one third of city’s all roads are causing traffic jams and creating trouble to commuters in the metropolis.
It has been observed that most of the builders, auto workshops, car dealers, high rise buildings, marriage lawns, schools and hospitals are violating the parking rules and regulations set in Karachi Building & Town Planning Regulation 2002 and the Sindh Building Control Ordinance 1979. Majority of them have no proper parking area for their visitors and as a result, cars are being parked along roadsides that cause traffic congestions.
Traffic congestion has become order of the day at MA Jinnah and Tariq Roads as majority of car dealer shops have covered almost 1/3 area of the roads and parked their new and old cars, causing traffic jams.
These owners seem most powerful who are openly violating the law by parking their cars inside roads for sale. No authorities could take action against them so far. Most affected main busy areas and roads include University Road, Shahra-e-Kamal Attaturk, University Road, Sadder area, Johar Chowrangi, Ghulshan-e-Iqbal and Malir. The authorities have taken actions against illegal encroachers in Sadder area several times and evacuated the areas from street venders and fruit sellers, but they have re-encroached the same sites.
Karachi Traffic Police DIG Amir Ahmed Shaikh said that they had written a letter to the Karachi commissioner, requesting him to send notices to all owners of marriage halls, schools, and hospitals to arrange parking lots for their visitors on urgent basis, otherwise, legal action would be taken against them. He also warned of stern action against owners of auto workshops and car dealers if they don’t evacuate the roads for traffic.
