Political groups have occupied space under seven Karachi flyovers

[Salman]

Political groups have occupied space under seven Karachi flyovers

KARACHI: The basements of seven out of thirty-one flyovers built in the metropolis to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic have been occupied by political, linguistic and religious parties, The News learnt Saturday.



The occupants of these basements include the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) that has occupied the basement of Baloch Colony Flyover and rented out the space in the form of shops and warehouses. One of the spaces is currently being used by a gas cylinder agency, while the other is being occupied by a service station. It is worth mentioning here that the presence of gas cylinders under bridges and flyovers in the capital is posing a perilous hazard for cars and pedestrians travelling over and under the bridges.



This matter was also brought to the attention of authorities in a letter submitted by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) to the court.



After having failed to get vacate the vicinity underneath one particular flyover of PAF occupation, KDA had gone into appeal in the court.



Different political, religious and linguistic parties have occupied the basements of flyovers of Baloch Colony Bridge, Quaidabad Railway Line Bridge, Quaidabad National Highway Bridge, Sir Syed University Bridge, Nagan Chorangee Flyover, Liaquatabad Flyover and Banaras Chorangee Flyover and rented them in the shape of shops, parking spaces etc.



When contacted for his comments, Director ISPR (PAF) Commander Nadeem did not provide his version to this scribe.