KARACHI: An alternative road will be built near the Natha Khan Bridge to ease traffic congestion and resolve the bridge’s frequent repair problems, officials said.
According to a statement from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab approved the project after several reports of damage and repeated incidents of iron theft from the bridge. These issues have caused regular maintenance work and inconvenience for commuters.
Mayor Wahab has directed the KMC Engineering Department to conduct a detailed survey within a week and start construction work immediately after.
During a meeting on the matter, the mayor said temporary fixes were no longer effective and that a long-term, durable solution was needed.
“It is our duty to resolve public complaints and civic problems without delay. Karachi’s residents deserve visible and lasting solutions,” he said.
Meanwhile, new traffic rules and the introduction of an automated challan system have become a major topic of public discussion in the city.
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Speaking at a programme organised by the Urban Resource Centre (URC), DIG Traffic Syed Pir Muhammad Shah said the new automated traffic challan system aims to reduce — or completely end — direct contact between the public and traffic police officers. The event was chaired by town planner Arif Hasan.
DIG Shah said traffic conditions reflect the discipline and behaviour of a city’s people, and improving them is a challenging task.
He noted that road accidents surged after November 2024, prompting the government to find the root cause instead of treating symptoms.
Shah also highlighted complaints of police misconduct and bribery he received after taking charge of the department. “Even if there’s an honest officer, you can’t monitor him 24/7,” he said.
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He pointed out that Karachi has around seven million vehicles but only 5,000 traffic policemen. “If we increase the number, criticism will grow too. So, we needed a different solution,” he added.
The DIG said the automated challan system, launched on October 1, will help eliminate unnecessary police-public interaction. “No officer can now stop a vehicle at any chowk. This saves time and avoids complaints about police behaviour,” he explained.
He further said that the initiative would also help reduce road accidents. “We can’t accept three deaths per day and around 90 deaths a month. That’s too high by any standard,” he said.
