Controversial Karachi Flyover Project Put on Hold

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has announced that the proposed flyover at the Disco Bakery intersection in Gulshan-i-Iqbal has been put on hold following a request from the local elected leadership.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Munawar Chowrangi Underpass on Sunday, the mayor said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) decided not to move forward with the project after the Jamaat-i-Islami town chairman asked the city administration to reconsider the plan.

The proposed flyover was intended to ease growing traffic congestion at the busy intersection. However, it faced strong criticism from residents, urban planners, architects, and transport experts, who argued that the project would encourage greater dependence on private vehicles instead of improving public transport and pedestrian infrastructure.

The announcement came as authorities opened the newly built Munawar Chowrangi Underpass in Gulistan-i-Jauhar to traffic. The Rs. 2 billion project was completed in 16 months and is expected to improve traffic flow between key residential and commercial areas of the city.

Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said the provincial government remains committed to improving Karachi’s road infrastructure through ongoing development projects. Mayor Wahab also said the underpass’s early completion reflects the city’s commitment to delivering public infrastructure projects efficiently.