KARACHI: City govt decides to widen major roads

KARACHI, Nov 4: The city government has placed as many as 35 main and busy thoroughfares under the Road Widening Scheme to shed the ever-increasing load of vehicular traffic which has already crossed the mark of one million.

All the enlisted roads and streets would be constructed only in accordance with ‘set back rules’ prescribed by the city government’s Master Plan & Environmental Control Department in consultation with relevant authorities from time to time.

One of major criteria set for the roads and streets enlisted under the scheme is that no basement or structure would be allowed in a portion of a plot affected by the widening of road. Besides, any compulsory open space specified for any building would be in addition to the set back prescribed for the widening of road/street on which it abuts.

However, a visit to different parts of the city, particularly the Old City area, would show that no proper measures are being taken by the KBCA to check or bring to a halt the construction/renovation works currently being undertaken along the roads falling under the scheme.

According to city government sources, a number of old buildings along the enlisted roads are either built without having the cut-line space between the structure and the roads as specified under the KB&TP Regulations, 2002.

Moreover, the KBCA’s policy of granting permission for constructing a new building with a Chajja (projection) in the cut-line space upon submission of an undertaking that “it (projection) would be demolished as and when required for the widening of roads” may create a lot of problems because in most of such cases, builders/owners have raised shops under such projections, the sources pointed out. They wondered that how would a person having purchased a shop in such a building at a considerable price allow demolition of his property.

“In fact, owners of a number of old buildings with a view to saving them from the condition of leaving cut-line space, usually get the permission for renovating their building and while undertaking renovation works, they also extend the projection,” the sources added.

The roads and streets enlisted for the Road Widening Scheme under the KB&TP Regulations, 2002, and their existing and proposed width are as follows:

Road/street Existing Width Proposed Width

Jehangir Sethna Road 80ft 130ft

Aga Khan Road 60ft 80ft

Business Recorder Road 100ft 120ft

Nooman Road 42ft 80ft

Chand Bibi Road 90ft 100ft

Strachen Road 56ft 80ft

Havelock Road 80ft 140ft

Aram Bagh Road 52ft 80ft

Zaibunnisa Street 72ft 80ft

Jamila Street 66ft 80ft