LYARI EXPRESSWAY EXTENSION – KARACHI’S MISSING LINK
A City Strained by Congestion
Karachi has long been described as a city of contrasts. Its streets are filled with the rhythm of commerce, its neighborhoods are energized by millions of residents, and its arteries are often clogged by endless traffic. The Lyari Expressway was conceived as a solution, a signal-free corridor designed to carry the lifeblood of the city from Mauripur to Sohrab Goth. Yet the project was left incomplete. The expressway stops at Sohrab Goth, leaving the northern suburbs disconnected and forcing commuters to endure congestion on Shahrah-e-Pakistan and the M-9, Motorway. .
The possibility of extending the Lyari Expressway from Sohrab Goth to the Northern Bypass has been envisioned as a transformative step. If realized, this extension would not only shorten journeys but also expand opportunities, weaving Gulshan-e-Maymar, Surjani, and North Karachi into the city’s heartbeat.
The Expressway Today
The Lyari Expressway runs along the Lyari River, covering approximately 16.5 kilometers. It was designed to provide a signal-free route, easing congestion for central districts and diverting heavy vehicles away from inner-city roads.
Yet its limitations are clear. The expressway terminates at Sohrab Goth, forcing traffic bound for Gulshan-e-Maymar, Surjani, and North Karachi to funnel through crowded arterial roads. Shahrah-e-Pakistan, Rashid Minhas Road, and the Super Highway remain burdened with vehicles, creating bottlenecks that slow the city’s rhythm.
The Case for Extension
The extension of the Lyari Expressway is more than a road project. It is a lifeline for Karachi’s northern suburbs.
• A direct, fast-track link between Sohrab Goth and the Northern Bypass would be created.
• Dependency on Shahrah-e-Pakistan and Rashid Minhas Road would be reduced.
• Journeys from Gulshan-e-Maymar, Surjani, and North Karachi would be shortened.
• Families would reach Saddar or Clifton without hours being surrendered to gridlock.
• Trucks would move from port to factory without strangling the city’s central arteries.
Industries in SITE and North Karachi would benefit from streamlined logistics. Property values in Gulshan-e-Maymar and Surjani would rise, as connectivity breathes new life into these neighborhoods. Congestion in Federal B Area, Gulshan, and Liaquatabad would ease. The city’s central districts would be relieved of heavy traffic, and quality of life would improve for residents.
Obstacles on the Path
The vision of extension is not without obstacles. Land clearance remains a sensitive issue. The original Lyari Expressway project was delayed for years due to resettlement controversies. Similar challenges would be faced if new land were to be acquired for extension.
Alignment between federal and provincial budgets would be required. Past delays have been linked to lack of funding, and political would be needed to ensure that resources are allocated. Integration with mass transit projects would be essential. The Green Line BRT and the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway would need to be aligned with the extension to avoid repeating car-centric congestion.
Displacement controversies would need to be avoided. Communities affected by the extension would need to be engaged with compassion, ensuring that development does not come at the cost of dignity.
Movement as Poetry
The extension is not only engineering but poetry in motion. Every kilometer would be a stanza, every interchange a pause, every journey a smoother verse in Karachi’s daily epic. The city’s rhythm would be restored, and its heartbeat strengthened.
A Vision for Tomorrow
Karachi has always been a city of resilience. Dreams have been built in dust and steel, and possibilities imagined in the face of adversity. The extension of the Lyari Expressway is a vision for tomorrow.
It is a promise that Gulshan-e-Maymar, Surjani, and North Karachi will no longer be treated as distant suburbs but as connected communities. Journeys will be shortened, trucks will move from port to factory, and families will reach Saddar without hours being surrendered to gridlock.
This vision is defined not only by asphalt and concrete but by dignity in movement. Time will be given back to the people, and the northern districts will be woven into the city’s fabric. Every commuter will be told: you are part of Karachi’s heartbeat, and the city belongs to you.
If realized, the extension will not only shorten distances but lengthen possibilities. Karachi’s map will be transformed into a more inclusive story, where every neighborhood is placed within the city’s rhythm, and every road directed toward a shared tomorrow.
Conclusion
The Lyari Expressway extension is more than a road project. It is a vision for connectivity, efficiency, and urban relief. If realized, it will redefine how Karachi’s northern suburbs are linked to the port and the city center, offering a faster, safer, and smarter route for millions.
The city’s arteries will be unclogged, its heartbeat strengthened, and its rhythm restored. Karachi’s tomorrow will be shaped not only by steel and concrete but by the dignity of movement and the promise of inclusion.
“A city is not measured by the length of its roads, but by the breadth of its connections.”
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