RAWALPINDI – The citizens have urged the authorities concerned to take solid steps to avoid traffic jam problem on city roads.
The citizens have called on the authorities to outline a comprehensive plan to solve traffic congestion in the city as heavy traffic jam on city roads especially at Center Hospital to Marrir Chowk and after launching of Marrer Chowk tunnel project on Benazir Bhutto Road (Murree road) is creating a lot of problems for the masses of Rawalpindi city.
The motorists said that they have to face inconvenience when they reach late at their destinations as traffic is not being regulated properly by the traffic wardens on Center Hospital to Marrer Chowk and other main roads of the town.
Talking about traffic jam in the city, people belonging to different walks of life said, the Benazir Bhutto Road, Raja Bazaar Road, Bank Road, Bunni Chowk, Said Pur Road, Peerwadhai Road, Tench Bhatta, 22 Number Chungi have very much importance for the citizens of Rawalpindi but due to traffic jam which has become a routine matter on these roads, the citizens are suffering great.
Due to traffic jam on Moti Bazaar Road our business is destroyed, as the customers and especially females do not come to markets, a shopkeeper Farman Ali said. The encroachments by the owners of motorcycle showrooms on Circular Road and their illegal commercial activities on the road have led to traffic jams.
Lack of traffic signals in Raja Bazaar and other important chowks of the city also creating traffic problems.
The traffic wardens also did not perform their duties properly in several chowks, said a motorists.
The citizens have urged the authorities concerned that strict checking of traffic rules violations, particularly on Benazir Bhutto Road (Murree Road) should be ordered. The commuters face big traffic problems on the congested Murree Road especially from Mareer chowk to Naz Cinema chowk due to heavy traffic load, traffic mismanagement and rules violations.
Driving on the Murree Road is enough to test the nerves of commuters, Atif, a commuter, said. He added,”We daily face huge traffic mess particularly at the peak hours”. The Committee Chowk underpass, Chandni chowk and sixth road flyovers on Murree Road could not help control the traffic mess mainly due to wrong parking of vehicles and other traffic rules violations. Five to 10 minute wait at all main traffic signals is a routine matter on Murree road, said Tahir, adding traffic problems on Murree Road could only be addressed through strict observance of rules.