Bahria Town’s flyover, underpasses—a relief for commuters

KARACHI: Clifton Flyover and underpasses developed by Bahria Town have completed two years of assuaging the traffic woes of Pakistan’s largest and the most populous city.

The landmark project was inaugurated on May 1, 2015, on the International Labour Day by a 70 years old Bahria Town employee namely Ghulam Jillani, in the presence of Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz Hussain.

This is Pakistan’s first mega public infrastructure project developed by a private real estate developer with its own finances. The grand project worth 1.8 billion rupees comprises construction of three underpasses, one flyover, two underground subways for pedestrians and the disabled. Alongside building the main infrastructure, the renovation of service roads and footpaths was also the part of this historic project.

The road project has contributed a great deal towards solving the enormous traffic problems in the city, particularly in Do Talwar Roundabout, Sea View, Do Darya Food Street, the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi, Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim, South City Hospital, Bilawal Chowrangi, Indus Valley School of Architecture, Zia-ud-Din Hospital, and the residents of DHA and Clifton areas. Considering the convenience of the public, Bahria Town is bearing the maintenance cost of the project as well, due to which the area of the city is becoming famous for its grandeur and smooth flow of traffic.

Bahria Town’s Director Projects and Construction Abdul Hafeez Malik said, “This project has smoothed the flow of traffic on adjoining roads as well. Our crew of 60 personnel; including electricians, gardeners, sweepers and plumbers, work in three shifts to ensure 24/7 maintenance of the project. Bahria Town is bearing the maintenance costs of this public project which belongs to the people of Karachi, who should take care of this project.”

“Before this project, I was always late for the class due to miserable traffic conditions on the road to college. Reaching the college in time is now possible,” said Yasir Ali, a student of the 2nd year at the Indus Valley School of Architecture. Similarly, for Rizwan, a banker, the development of this project has made life much easier in terms of commuting. He said, “Now I can reach my office on time every morning, which was not the case three years ago.” Even for the devotees travelling to Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine like Zainab Bibi, whose weekly journey to the shrine has become hassle-free by virtue of this project.

Bahria Town has a policy of implementing such voluntary projects for the benefit of the masses. After the successful completion of Clean Karachi, Bahria Town has already started Clean-Nawabshah campaign, aiming to rid the whole city of heaps of garbage and restore public parks, roads and footpaths.