Expressway in Karachi becomes fully operational after 15 years

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday inaugurated the Lyari Expressway in Karachi.

With this move, the Lyari Expressway became fully operational, 15 years after work on the project first began.

Although parts of the Lyari Expressway are open to traffic, a section of it remained incomplete for a number of years, rendering a vast portion inoperational, reported the Dawn.

The southbound portion of the expressway was opened for vehicular traffic around a decade ago.

The project had taken over 10 years to complete due to "technical difficulties and encroachments," the Pakistani Prime Minister said while addressing the inauguration ceremony.

In order to build this project, around 15 thousand households had to be relocated and duly compensated monetarily.

According to several media reports, the total length of the project including ramps is 38 km. It includes four interchanges. Besides, 20 major bridges are also part of the project.

Abbasi, who is also expected to inaugurate the Northbound Carriageway in Karachi, will leave for Gawadar on Monday where he will chair an important meeting related to development projects in the province.

--ANI