Daily Times

KARACHI: Surprisingly a large number of illegal restaurants and other shops and scores of latrines, still occupy the major portion of roads under the overhead bridge in Quaidabad disrupting severely the flow of vehicular traffic till today under the nose of District Commissioner , openly , DMC Malir administration and police.

All this goes unchecked despite that two days ago the vibrant Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed dissatisfaction over dilapidated and encroached roads, illegal shops under overhead bridges and heaps of garbage during visit to different locations of Malir, Quaidabad, Daud Chowrangi and Landhi-Korangi.

Sources told Daily Times that hundreds of shops, cabins, push -carts, illegal restaurants and latrines on the roads under the overhead bridge provide millions of rupees of ‘monthly’ to the concerned authorities. When contacted in this regard, the concerned DMC Malir, TMA administration and others for the version on the story and updates on the ongoing cleanliness and anti-encroachment drive their phone remain unattended.

Talking to the Daily Times, District Commissioner Malir Mohammed Ali Shah said that the anti-encroachment drive would continue till the removal of all encroachments as per directives of the Court. He further said the District Council had permitted for the establishment of these shops, however, after the SC orders the action against them will be taken soon.

He also said the National Highway Authority would soon start over the repair work of the road, which was already finalised by the former Chief Minister Sindh.

The new proactive chief minister was shocked during his visit over to see the illegal encroachments under Quaidabad overhead bridge as well as heaps of garbage and stagnant drainage water at and around the area. Murad Ali Shah had directed the Karachi Commissioner , Deputy Commissioner Malir and DMC administrator Malir for immediately taking measures for the removal of garbage on roads as well as demolishing of illegal shops and other structures.

Despite these clear directions by the Chief Minister, the worse sanitary and environmental conditions persist in the area as the sources have disclosed that District Administration, DMC Malir and concerned Police are collecting about Rs 6 million as rent and monthly from the illegal occupants.

Presently the road from Malir to Qaidabad via Bin Qasim Razzaqabad leading to the Industrial areas and Steel town in worst condition. The road is mostly inundated with piles of garbage and the area is stinking like a sewer.

The budget document reveals that the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) receives heavy funds for maintenance and building of roads of city roads, but it does not do its job due to corrupt practices of government officials; KMC, DMCs TMAs share in local government budget is about Rs 42,223.597 million out of Rs 350,934.899 million in 2013-14 and also an amount of around Rs 10 billion were allocated for major infrastructure development in Karachi during 2016-17.