Karachi: Sindh government officials of the provincial home department and the Superintendent of Police (SP) traffic East assured the Sindh High Court (SHC) that all roads would be opened during practice sessions of teams for the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Some businessmen and shopkeepers of the affected roads have filed a constitution petition in the SHC challenging the decision of Sindh government authorities to block all the roads nearby National Stadium for the protection of the PSL session-6 matches.
The SHC warned the Sindh government authorities not to close roads during the PSL matches starting from February 20, as such closures cause major traffic jams in different areas.
The government officials, including the officers of Home department Sindh, appearing before the court have assured that only some roads will be closed and alternative routes will be provided during the PSL matches in Karachi National Stadium, while all roads remain open during practice sessions of the franchise teams.
The court said: “If the roads are closed, there will be contempt of court proceedings.”
If all the roads are open, the matter is over, the court remarked.
On Tuesday, the traffic police issued a plan for commuters during the PSL sixth season. As per the plan issued by traffic police, the route from Hassan Square to National Stadium will be closed for all types of traffic.
The fly-over will be closed for the general public from Liqauatabad which will be diverted to University Road. The traffic will be diverted towards New Town from Hassan Square bridge. All kinds of small vehicles will be allowed to proceed on Habib Ibrahim Rehmatullah Road towards the stadium. Heavy/public transport will not be allowed.
The Dalmia road will remain open for small vehicles from to Stadium Signal. Heavy/public transport will not be allowed. The University Road/New Town turning will remain open for small vehicles towards the stadium signal. Heavy/public transport will not be allowed.
Heavy traffic will be diverted from Sohrab Goth to Nipa, Liaquatabad Number 10 and Hassan Square, whereas, it will be closed from PP Chowrangi to University Road; Karsaz to National Stadium; Millennium to New Town.
The businesses of shopkeepers from Hassan Squire roundabout to NIPA bridge, Liaquatabad to Hassan Squire may severely be affected during the PSL session-6 as the police and law enforcing agencies unannounced closed these roads even in the practice matches of the teams.
The business community of Karachi has complained about the traffic management plan for Pakistan Super League (PSL) 6 and claimed that it is incurring losses due to the traffic situation.
Meanwhile, the Civic Centre, where major government departments of local government offices are located, has to be closed as the police and Rangers do not allow the general public to go there. The head office of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), located in front of the Karachi Expo Centre, is to also remain closed because of the matches.
