Summary
- Electric Poles in Middle of Road Cause Accidents on Sukkur Industrial Area Road, Construction Still Incomplete After 10 Years Electricity poles left in the middle of the main road leading to Sukkur Industrial Area, SITE Area and the new bus terminal have become a death trap for citizens.
- Build the road first, the issue will get highlighted in the media, then HESCO-like pressure will automatically come on SEPCO and it will immediately remove the electric poles, and like Hyderabad, Sukkur citizens will also benefit.” *1.
- Citizens and social circles have demanded that the Chief Minister Sindh, Commissioner Sukkur and Deputy Commissioner Sukkur: – Immediately remove and shift poles from the middle of the road to the side.
Electric Poles in Middle of Road Cause Accidents on Sukkur Industrial Area Road, Construction Still Incomplete After 10 Years
Electricity poles left in the middle of the main road leading to Sukkur Industrial Area, SITE Area and the new bus terminal have become a death trap for citizens. After the road was widened, the poles were not removed, resulting in daily accidents.
Speaking to Minute Mirror in a sarcastic tone, citizens said: “Is this also a grand plan of Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, like the zig-zag road with poles in the middle of the road in Hyderabad? Build the road first, the issue will get highlighted in the media, then HESCO-like pressure will automatically come on SEPCO and it will immediately remove the electric poles, and like Hyderabad, Sukkur citizens will also benefit.”
*1. What Is The Core Issue?*
The Sukkur Industrial Area Road, which connects Sukkur Bypass and Shikarpur Road to Industrial Estate and Sukkur SITE Area, has been under construction and expansion for the past several months.
The road is being made dual-carriage and widened, but the old WAPDA / SEPCO electricity poles and transformer poles installed in the middle and sides of the road are still in their place.
The contractor has carpeted the road but the poles now stand right in the middle. At night, due to lack of street lights and reflectors, drivers cannot see them.
*2. Details of Accidents*
According to local sources, traffic police and rescue officials, more than a dozen major and minor accidents have occurred on this road in the last two months. Most occurred at night when motorcyclists and rickshaw drivers collided with the poles.
Several motorcyclists were injured and shifted to Civil Hospital Sukkur. Loading vehicles and trucks also collide with dividers and footpaths while trying to avoid the poles. Citizens say these are open death traps.
Locals said that one person has already died due to these poles, and especially at night, motorcycles with faulty lights crash into them daily.
*3. Under Construction – Why Work Stopped?*
It has been learned that the project is a joint venture of Sukkur Development Authority and Works & Services Department. A construction company was awarded the expansion contract.
As per the agreement, the electric poles were to be shifted to the side, but due to an estimate and payment dispute between WAPDA and the contractor, the poles could not be shifted.
At present, one side of the road is complete while the other side is covered with mud, gravel and poles. The drainage system is also incomplete; after rain, the road turns into a pond.
Officials said that payment for shifting was made to Sukkur Electric Supply Company five years ago, and payment has been made again to SEPCO now, with hopes that shifting will be done soon.
*4. Public and Business Reaction*
Factory owners, labourers and transporters of the Industrial Area have strongly protested. They say the road is used daily by thousands of labourers, loader vehicles and passengers. Due to poles in the middle, traffic remains jammed and precious lives are being lost.
Citizens have also shared videos on social media clearly showing poles in the middle of the road.
Citizens further said they have seen this road under construction for almost ten years – sometimes work starts from one side, sometimes from the other, sometimes from the middle – but their desire to see the complete road remains unfulfilled.
*5. Administration’s Stance and Demands*
When contacted, the district administration said SEPCO authorities have been asked in writing to remove the poles and shifting work will start soon.
Citizens and social circles have demanded that the Chief Minister Sindh, Commissioner Sukkur and Deputy Commissioner Sukkur:
– Immediately remove and shift poles from the middle of the road to the side.
– Install temporary reflectors, lights and warning boards to avoid accidents at night.
– Complete the under-construction road work as soon as possible to avoid further loss of life.
