The Sindh government recently inaugurated a section of Malir Expressway (named Shahrah Bhutto) in Karachi. The corridor will have a total area of 39 km, connecting the M9 Motorway (read: Bahria Town, DHA City and similar developments) to DHA and adjoining neighbourhoods.
Expressways and similar corridors have financial and social costs. Not long ago, the 16.5 km long Lyari Expressway was built, which displaced lakhs of people. Many victims are still trying to get housing in government resettlement schemes. But expressways are invaluable for political mileage. Photo ops for leaders are the benefits that motivate such schemes.
Motorcycles, autorickshaws, minibuses and general public buses do not use the expressway. Thus, expressways cater mostly to the elite. Normal arterial roads, secondary streets and other roads have heavy vehicular and pedestrian loads. Needless to say, the condition of such roads in Karachi can be compared to war zones!
Environmentalists, activists, members of civil society and representatives of local communities have been expressing serious concerns over the construction of this expressway. Threats to the overall ecology of the river and its environs, reduction in farming activities and forcing the affected local people to accept below-market rates as compensation for their land are some of the concerns.
Expressways cater mostly to the elite.
Moreover, a comparison is made between the funds spent on the project and the amount required to repair over 9,500 km of roads in the city. The total cost of the expressway is estimated to be around Rs 55 billion. Sindh government will give 32 billion rupees under public private partnership. Concerned citizens believe that commuters can get a lot of relief if this money is used for road repair work across the city. The expressway will greatly benefit car owners and few other vehicles.
Malir River is one of the precious ecosystems that Karachi has. Its catchment area extends to about 1,850 square kilometers. Shrubs, shrubs, trees, vegetable fields, barren soil and fully grown trees are some of the components of this ecosystem. Sand mining continues unabated in many of these and adjoining areas. The overall topography of a large area is adversely affected due to this undesirable practice. Apart from this, the Malir river is facing discharge of raw sewage from factories and houses. Many trees and shrubs can be seen growing along the river bank due to the nutrient rich sewage. This leads to continuous blockage of water flow. The river floods during the monsoon season. Large areas along the banks are affected. It is not clear how these complex land uses will be managed once the expressway is completed.
One can draw lessons from other contexts. Many cities built expressways to reclaim public space and then demolished them. A well-known example is the Cheonggyecheon, a river in the heart of Seoul, South Korea. Many years ago an elevated highway was constructed in such a way that all the water was covered. A lot of negative space emerged under the corners on the right side of the highway. A courageous mayor decided to scientifically demolish the elevated highway and restore the river. The area is now full of cultural and social activities.
New Delhi developed a bus rapid transit system in 2008 ahead of the Commonwealth Games. It was poorly planned and led to congestion and increased air pollution. It was eventually abolished. Several new and efficient public transport options were launched, including the Delhi Metro. In a legal proceeding related to BRT, the Delhi High Court remarked that “a developed country is not one where the poor own a car. It is one where the rich use public transport.”
Karachi needs Malir river flowing with clean water to maintain ecological balance. River banks need to be maintained in their pristine form, with designated land use to facilitate farming and plantations. A comprehensive river restoration plan can be developed to address these and other challenges. This initiative should include protection of the demarcation and alignment of the Malir river, including its tributaries Thadhu and Suk; preservation of farming activities in the adjacent area; Survey and protection of settlements and control of illegal sand mining. The government should heed the demands of the villagers and workers who have been demanding a ban on sand mining for years.
Transportation, environment, development of wetlands, sewage management, and creation of tourist attractions can be included in this extension initiative. If this important environmental asset is transformed to benefit its surrounding population, Karachi will benefit greatly.
The author is an educationist and researcher based in Karachi.
Published in Dawn, January 23, 2025.
