DCO finalizes strategy for alternate routes with stakeholders

Construction of SFC-IV in the offing:

December 16, 2009
By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: District Coordination Officer (DCO) Karachi Muhammad Javed Hanif Khan has said that the construction work of the Signal free Corridor (SFC)-IV was in the offing so the arrangements for moving the traffic flow to alternate routes should be immediately identified so as to avoid any bad connivance on the key avenue of the city, Shahra-e Faisal.

The DCO has reviewed these measures during an exigent meeting that he had convened on Wednesdays following a detailed visit of the Shahra-e Faisal for overseeing the pons and crons of construction of SFC-IV prior to initiation of commencement of construction work.

The stakeholders and city’s administrative agencies that attended the meeting included National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), Karachi Cantonment Board (KCB), Capital City Traffic Police (CCTP), Karachi Water and sewerage Board (KWSB) Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), Pakistan Telecommunication Company (Pvt) Ltd (PTCL) Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Five corps.

These have assured the DCO of their best cooperation so as to facilitate the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) for fast track construction of the SFC-IV.

The DCO urged the CCTP to diligently finalize alternate routes for converting the heavy tidal flow of Traffic at certain points of the Shahra-e Faisal so that unwanted gridlocks and inconvenience to citizens should be prevented.

The meeting has decided that traffic signals located at Tipu Sultan Road and City School would be closed so that the traffic flow on these venues should be uninterrupted because these would serve as key alternate arteries for the purpose.

The DCO was told that the utility service providers such as KESC, PTCL and others would ensure shifting of underlying cables if needed so that the SFC-IV project would not come under any undue hurdle.

The meeting also decided that certain roads meant for the alternate routes could be expanded for better flow of vehicular traffic and condition of certain roads would be improved through necessary carpeting.

The DCO was informed that Rafiqui Shaheed Road and Iqbal Shaheed Road would be expanded immediately while the meeting also reviewed possibility of widening the road at PAF Base at Shahra-e Faisal upto Hotel Mehran, which would be finalized in a meeting with the KCB shortly.

Five Corps Commander Karachi, DIG CCTP Gulzar Kiyani, Senior Superintendents of Police, CDGK Executive Works and services, KESC, PTCL, KWSB, SSGC and NTC attended.