LAHORE: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will inaugurate the North Bound Carriageway of the much awaited Lyari Expressway Project in Karachi here on Sunday. The entire expressway, northbound and southbound, will be operational and open to the public after the formal inauguration ceremony.
The project that started in 2002 saw frequent delays due to non-availability of required right of way (ROW) owing to large-scale settlements and illegal encroachment on either side of Lyari River.
The South Bound carriageway, which is 16 km long, was completed and opened for public back in 2008. However, development work on North Bound carriageway, which is also 16 km long, got stopped after completion of 6.5 km in 2009.
In 2016 after receiving the ROW for the remaining project, NHA formally began work to complete the project.
The total length of the project including ramps is 38 km, with a construction cost of Rs 10 billion. This includes 4 interchanges at Sohrab Goth, Manghopir, Sir Shah Suleman and Maripur. Besides, 20 major bridges are also part of this mega project.
The project carries immense importance in reducing the ever-growing traffic volume inside the city. The traffic coming from the port and Super Highway, now known as M9, will use the expressway to reach their destinations bypassing the city. It will also reduce flood damage to the areas along the river and will add to the environmental protection of the entire area.
