Residents of Karachi endured a difficult Monday morning commute as widespread traffic jams paralyzed the city. The disruptions were a direct result of repair work beginning on roads severely damaged by the previous week’s torrential rains. Key thoroughfares were closed for “development work on potholes,” forcing detours and creating significant bottlenecks. The Karachi Traffic Police urged commuters to call its helpline for alternative routes to navigate the congested streets.
The chaos stems from a devastating downpour on August 19th that flooded neighborhoods and overwhelmed the city’s fragile infrastructure. The storm left major roads riddled with deep potholes and cracks, exposing the devastation to the road network and posing serious dangers to vehicles. From the busy Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road to Shahrah-e-Faisal, the city’s most vital arteries have been critically damaged, raising questions about the authorities’ ability to maintain them.
The Monday morning repairs, while necessary, created numerous chokepoints across the metropolis. Development work blocked roads in the Malir, East, and Korangi districts, including critical junctions like Madras Chowk and areas near Shaheen Complex. Furthermore, accumulated rainwater and potholes themselves caused severe delays at other major locations, such as Checkpost No. 6 near Malir Cantonment, the Drigh Road Underpass, and the main Superhighway near Sachal Mor.
With multiple land-controlling agencies responsible for different patches of the city’s infrastructure, a coordinated repair effort is underway. However, the simultaneous closures and the sheer scale of the damage led to a morning of gridlock. While Google Maps showed some improvement to light traffic on main arteries by midday, the situation highlighted the prolonged challenge Karachi faces in recovering from the storm and restoring safe transit for its citizens.
