Implications of Transport Implications of Transport Improvement Projects on Improvement Projects on

Land Use: Some Examples Land Use: Some Examples From KarachiFrom Karachi

ByBy

Dr Noman AhmedDr Noman AhmedProfessor and ChairmanProfessor and Chairman

Department of Architecture and PlanningDepartment of Architecture and PlanningNED University of Engineering and NED University of Engineering and

Technology, Karachi Technology, Karachi 1

1. Relationship1. Relationship

Land and space use

Benefit to people

Transportation and mobility

2

2. What is in the sequence?2. What is in the sequence?

Story of human settlements by

public and private initiatives

Squatter settlements,

unapproved land subdivisions and

peri-urban hutments

A. Land People Transport

B. People Land Transport

(and other services)

3

Real estate development,

land sales schemes and high

end neighbourhoods

C. Transport Land People

4

3. Context of Karachi – Some 3. Context of Karachi – Some Important FactsImportant Facts

•Primate city – contributes 15% Primate city – contributes 15% of GDP; accounts for 32% of GDP; accounts for 32% national industrial base; 25% national industrial base; 25% federal revenue and 62% of federal revenue and 62% of income taxincome tax

5

• Half of the population live in Half of the population live in abject povertyabject poverty

• Faces multiple issues and Faces multiple issues and complex issues in mobilitycomplex issues in mobility

6

7

4. Who plans for Karachi and 4. Who plans for Karachi and executes projects?executes projects?

•Anyone and everyone! Today, Anyone and everyone! Today, urban and regional planning urban and regional planning function is supervised by Sindh function is supervised by Sindh Building Control Authority – it is a Building Control Authority – it is a case of putting a cart before a case of putting a cart before a horse!horse!

8

• All master plans strongly All master plans strongly recommended the creation and recommended the creation and capacity building of an independent capacity building of an independent planning agency since four planning agency since four decades! No headway experienced decades! No headway experienced till now.till now.

• Transportation is one of the Transportation is one of the functions of urban and regional functions of urban and regional planning – it can not be viewed in planning – it can not be viewed in isolation from land use!isolation from land use!

9

5. What results?5. What results?

Isolated projects, schemes and Isolated projects, schemes and interventions that cause limited interventions that cause limited benefits and intense adverse benefits and intense adverse impacts on the land and life of impacts on the land and life of people.people.

10

5.1 Lyari Expressway5.1 Lyari Expressway

A project introduced, without the A project introduced, without the sanction of previous master plans, sanction of previous master plans, generated wide spread outcomes generated wide spread outcomes on land use and conduct of people on land use and conduct of people

11

a. Backgrounda. Background

•Northern and Southern Bypasses Northern and Southern Bypasses were proposed by the Karachi were proposed by the Karachi Master Plan 1973 to enable all port Master Plan 1973 to enable all port related traffic to bypass the city. related traffic to bypass the city.

•The Southern Bypass could not be The Southern Bypass could not be built because of opposition from the built because of opposition from the DHA which was concerned about the DHA which was concerned about the environmental pollution that the environmental pollution that the Expressway would cause.Expressway would cause.

12

• The Northern Bypass was not begun till 2001 because The Northern Bypass was not begun till 2001 because of a lack of political will. of a lack of political will.

• A group of citizens and professionals floated the idea A group of citizens and professionals floated the idea of Lyari Expressway in 1986 as an alternative to of Lyari Expressway in 1986 as an alternative to Northern BypassNorthern Bypass

13

• In July-August 1993 heavy rains In July-August 1993 heavy rains flooded the Lyari River and Malir flooded the Lyari River and Malir River. As a result, Lyari River. As a result, Lyari Expressway was thought of as a Expressway was thought of as a solution for flood protection and solution for flood protection and also generating funds through a also generating funds through a toll for cost recovery. toll for cost recovery.

14

• CIDA, which initially agreed for financial CIDA, which initially agreed for financial support, backed out due to voicing of citizens' support, backed out due to voicing of citizens' concernsconcerns

15

• Citizens, NGO and community Citizens, NGO and community opposition to the project led to opposition to the project led to public hearings arranged by the public hearings arranged by the senior minister of the Sindh senior minister of the Sindh government in 1996.government in 1996.

• As a result of the hearings, it was As a result of the hearings, it was

decided to build the Northern decided to build the Northern Bypass and not the Lyari Bypass and not the Lyari Expressway. Expressway.

16

• In 2000 the Karachi Port Trust In 2000 the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) finalized the proposal for (KPT) finalized the proposal for building the Northern Bypass on building the Northern Bypass on BOT basis. BOT basis.

• The KNBP was a six lane The KNBP was a six lane highway of 68 km and joined highway of 68 km and joined Super Highway beyond Toll PlazaSuper Highway beyond Toll Plaza

17

• In June 2001 the military government decided to build In June 2001 the military government decided to build both the Northern Bypass and the Lyari Expressway both the Northern Bypass and the Lyari Expressway within the Northern Bypass budget.within the Northern Bypass budget.

• To make this possible, the Bypass alignment was To make this possible, the Bypass alignment was changed and reduced in length. It now joins the Super changed and reduced in length. It now joins the Super Highway just beyond Sohrab Goth. Its six lanes were Highway just beyond Sohrab Goth. Its six lanes were reduced to four.reduced to four.

18

• National Highway Authority was National Highway Authority was entrusted with the construction of entrusted with the construction of the Expressway and Rs 5.1 billion the Expressway and Rs 5.1 billion were allocated for this construction. were allocated for this construction.

19

• Lyari expressway was proposed as a Lyari expressway was proposed as a 16.5 kilometres long three-lane road 16.5 kilometres long three-lane road along both banks of the Lyari River, along both banks of the Lyari River, starting from Mauripur and ending at starting from Mauripur and ending at Sohrab Goth.Sohrab Goth.

• Easing traffic flow within the city, Easing traffic flow within the city, streamlining land use along its Row streamlining land use along its Row and moving people from flood zone to and moving people from flood zone to safer locations were its objectivessafer locations were its objectives

b. Lyari Expressway Proposal b. Lyari Expressway Proposal 20012001

20

• Former Nazim reviewing the projectFormer Nazim reviewing the project

21

• The area between M.A. Jinnah Road (to the The area between M.A. Jinnah Road (to the South of the Lyari River) and Estate Avenue (to South of the Lyari River) and Estate Avenue (to the North of the Lyari River) consists of the the North of the Lyari River) consists of the most congested and environmentally polluted most congested and environmentally polluted settlements of Karachi.settlements of Karachi.

• This area originally contained Karachi’s This area originally contained Karachi’s wholesale markets and small scale wholesale markets and small scale manufacturing along with residential areas.manufacturing along with residential areas.

22

c. LEW and Land Use Issuesc. LEW and Land Use Issues

23

• Over the years these markets and Over the years these markets and manufacturing units have expanded manufacturing units have expanded to occupy almost the entire area. In to occupy almost the entire area. In addition, garbage recycling units have addition, garbage recycling units have developed and continue to expand.developed and continue to expand.

24

• Manufacturing and wholesaling has led to Manufacturing and wholesaling has led to the creation of huge storage areas required the creation of huge storage areas required for these activities, a transport related for these activities, a transport related services sector and informal cargo services sector and informal cargo terminals. This has further congested and terminals. This has further congested and polluted the area.polluted the area.

25

26

• Due to a lack of alternatives the Due to a lack of alternatives the garbage recycling and sorting activity garbage recycling and sorting activity has spilled onto the Lyari bed and has spilled onto the Lyari bed and banks and people banks and people working in this working in this activity have started residing here.activity have started residing here.

27

• The main wholesaling activity is related to the The main wholesaling activity is related to the Dhan Mandi, Chemical Market and Metal Dhan Mandi, Chemical Market and Metal Market. Since they have no space for Market. Since they have no space for warehousing left, they are finding warehousing left, they are finding warehousing space in various katchi abadis. warehousing space in various katchi abadis. This has added to the city’s environmental, This has added to the city’s environmental, social and traffic related problems.social and traffic related problems.

28

• Because of the warehousing and Because of the warehousing and transport activities the population of this transport activities the population of this area has severe health problems. Few area has severe health problems. Few years ago, six children died because of years ago, six children died because of leakage from the chemicals stored at leakage from the chemicals stored at the Chemical Market.the Chemical Market.

29

• Residents of the Lyari and trans-Lyari Residents of the Lyari and trans-Lyari settlements have constantly asked various settlements have constantly asked various governments to shift manufacturing and governments to shift manufacturing and warehousing from their areas. This will warehousing from their areas. This will remove the transport activities as well. The remove the transport activities as well. The spaces vacated by these activities can spaces vacated by these activities can provide space for badly needed amenities provide space for badly needed amenities in the congested settlements. in the congested settlements.

30

• Between Lyari River and M.A. Jinnah Between Lyari River and M.A. Jinnah Road Karachi’s built heritage is Road Karachi’s built heritage is located. It is fast disappearing and located. It is fast disappearing and being replaced by illegally built being replaced by illegally built warehousing and run down worker’s warehousing and run down worker’s accommodation. accommodation.

31

• The Lyari Expressway did not promise to address these issues. On the The Lyari Expressway did not promise to address these issues. On the contrary the manufacturing units, businesses and houses demolished contrary the manufacturing units, businesses and houses demolished by it have found alternative space in the already congested inner city.by it have found alternative space in the already congested inner city.

32

d. City Level Planning Issuesd. City Level Planning Issues

• The Expressway project was not a part of a larger The Expressway project was not a part of a larger city planning exercise. There were cheaper and city planning exercise. There were cheaper and better methods of easing traffic flow in Karachi that better methods of easing traffic flow in Karachi that have been proposed repeatedly by the erstwhile have been proposed repeatedly by the erstwhile Traffic Engineering Bureau (TEB) and professionals.Traffic Engineering Bureau (TEB) and professionals.

33

• Less than half of the affectees Less than half of the affectees were living in the riverbed or in were living in the riverbed or in areas prone to flooding. areas prone to flooding.

• The building of an Expressway The building of an Expressway was not required to provide was not required to provide protection to them or for the protection to them or for the process of relocating them. process of relocating them.

34

• The building of the Expressway did The building of the Expressway did not solve the major environmental not solve the major environmental problems of the city or of the areas problems of the city or of the areas it passes through. it passes through.

35

e. e. Destruction of Homes and Destruction of Homes and BusinessesBusinesses

• Less than half of the affected housing units were in the flood zone or in the riverbed. Less than half of the affected housing units were in the flood zone or in the riverbed.

• According to independent, studies, the following demolitions took place.According to independent, studies, the following demolitions took place.1.1. Housing units Housing units 25,53125,5312.2. Commercial and manufacturing units Commercial and manufacturing units 1,222 1,222 3.3. Mosques, churches, graveyards, Mosques, churches, graveyards, temples temples 58 58

36

• The schooling of 26,000 The schooling of 26,000 students was discontinued and students was discontinued and about 40,000 wage earners about 40,000 wage earners lost their jobs. Almost all these lost their jobs. Almost all these persons worked in the persons worked in the neighborhood wholesale neighborhood wholesale markets and manufacturing markets and manufacturing units. units.

37

• Residents and local government had Residents and local government had invested Rs 5 billion in building homes, invested Rs 5 billion in building homes, schools, social sector facilities, schools, social sector facilities, acquiring infrastructure connections acquiring infrastructure connections (water, electricity, telephone, gas). All (water, electricity, telephone, gas). All this was demolished in an age of this was demolished in an age of recession, unemployment and inflation.recession, unemployment and inflation.

38

f. Resettlement Plan was flawedf. Resettlement Plan was flawed

• The resettlement plan did not differentiate The resettlement plan did not differentiate between old villages, leased settlements and between old villages, leased settlements and informal occupation of land for residential informal occupation of land for residential purposes. purposes.

39

• The commercial and manufacturing units that The commercial and manufacturing units that provided direct employment to about 40,000 provided direct employment to about 40,000 wage earners were demolished without wage earners were demolished without compensation or support for relocation. compensation or support for relocation.

40

• The persons working in these units were displaced and offered 80 The persons working in these units were displaced and offered 80 square yards plots in locations far from their places of existing and square yards plots in locations far from their places of existing and potential work.potential work.

41

• There is no social and physical There is no social and physical infrastructure at the relocation infrastructure at the relocation sites and no employment either. sites and no employment either.

• Rs 50,000 compensation is Rs 50,000 compensation is simply not enough to build a simply not enough to build a home. This money is home. This money is consumed in transportation consumed in transportation and in hiring a place to and in hiring a place to survive between demolition survive between demolition and considering the and considering the construction of a house in construction of a house in the relocation settlement.the relocation settlement. 42

5.2 Commercialization Policy 5.2 Commercialization Policy Along Major RoadsAlong Major Roads

To harness the potential generated due to intense utilization of major streets, these corridors of movement were targeted for a revised floor area ratio. It began in 2002 and is being constantly pursued. Streets increased from 06 to 46 as of now.

43

Shahra-e-FaisalShahra-e-Faisal

44

Shahra-e-QauedeenShahra-e-Qauedeen

45

Tariq RoadTariq Road

46

Khalid Bin Waleed RoadKhalid Bin Waleed Road

47

6. Lessons learned and way 6. Lessons learned and way forwardforward

•Transport improvement must be Transport improvement must be done as part of an integrated city done as part of an integrated city planning exercise. Past example of planning exercise. Past example of Karachi Development Plans of Karachi Development Plans of 1973-85 and 1986-2000 are 1973-85 and 1986-2000 are examplesexamples

48

• Benefits and adverse impacts Benefits and adverse impacts on people must be weighed on people must be weighed before initiating plans and before initiating plans and projectsprojects

• A comprehensive land use A comprehensive land use analysis must be done for major analysis must be done for major transportation schemes, transportation schemes, including the BRJincluding the BRJ

49

• Karachi needs an all powerful Karachi needs an all powerful and well provided planning and well provided planning agency agency

50