In a significant move aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving the urban mobility of Pakistan’s largest metropolis, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has finalized an extensive plan to rehabilitate more than 26 major streets falling under the jurisdiction of the Town Municipal Corporations. The proposal, amounting to Rs 9 billion, will be submitted for approval under the Special Karachi Development Grant from provincial Government.
A high-level meeting in this regard was held at the KMC Head Office, chaired by Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab. The meeting was attended by Secretary Local Government Waseem Shamshad, Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi, Municipal Commissioner KMC Syed Muhammad Afzal Zaidi, Special Secretary Local Government Syed Azhar Shah, Financial Advisor Gulzar Abro, Senior Director Coordination Ikhlaq Yousafzai, Director Media Daniyal Siyal, and other senior officials.
During the meeting, a comprehensive review of various development schemes and urban improvement programs was conducted. It was decided that all shortlisted schemes would be finalized and forwarded for approval under the Special Karachi Development Grant, ensuring swift initiation of work across the city.
The rehabilitation plan focuses on the most burdened and frequently used arteries across different districts – roads that are central to daily commuter movement but have long suffered from wear, congestion, and inadequate maintenance.
Key Roads Identified for Rehabilitation Include District Central: Hashim Raza Road, Shahrah-e-Usman, Al-Amna Avenue, Shahrah-e-Usman to Shahrah-e-Noor Jahan, among others, District West: Orangi Link Road, Gulshan-e-Ghazi, 19-D Road, Faqir Colony roads, Additional internal connectors, District East: Sehba Akhtar Road, Sardar Usman Ali Sabri Road, Nash Kazmi Road, Other key routes connecting residential and commercial neighborhoods, District South: Garden Road, Mirza Adam Road, Sarwar Shaheed Road, Strategic adjoining streets, District Korangi: Jinnah Square Road, Liaquat Market Road, Multiple adjoining access routes, District Malir: Khokar Par Road, Mehran Depot arteries, Additional roads forming the core Malir traffic grid, The estimated cost for road rehabilitation across these districts amounts to Rs 5.5 billion.