SHEIKHUPURA - The Traffic Police has failed to ease the aggravating traffic congestion on city roads and come up with a strategy to smoothen the flow mainly due to the ineptitude and indifference of the officials concerned.
Moreover, the sanctioned strength of traffic police is more than 90 personnel but there are only one dozen cops one can see on roads streamlining the traffic whereas the rest are performing duties at traffic police offices. Traders Association Civil Quarters Road President Malik Pervaiz Ahmad and Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran General Secretary Wajid Hussain Bukhari while talking to journalists here said that the transporters besides blocking roads, parked their vehicles in the middle of roads in the presence of traffic police personnel but the cops appeared hesitated to stop the blatant violation, causing multifarious problems for the pedestrians and motorists alike. “This is the most pathetic situation because the officials supposed the stop violation of rules and regulations and smooth traffic flow become spectators to the public nightmare,” he pointed out. Malik Pervaiz alleged that the transports paid handsome amount to the traffic police as bribe for enjoying the {immunity} to violate traffic rules. He stated that overloading and overcharging was another grave problem the commuters confronted on daily basis. Similarly, motorcycle and auto rickshaws being driven by below age drivers, having no licence and number plates are another factor that has been causing great mess on the roads. There are more than 200 motorcycle and auto rickshaws plying on the different roads of the city without any documents. He claimed that mostly criminals used without numbers plate rickshaws for snatching especially from the women.
On the occasion, Wajid Bukhari blamed that the snatching incident increased in the city due to the connivance between the traffic police personnel and criminals. He added that due to the negligence of traffic police personnel many accidents occurred on daily besides various accidents occurred to fasting moving auto and motorcycle rickshaws, causing injuries to elderly man and women.
He said that Railway Road, Lahore-Sheikhupura Road, Khalid Road, Mesile Chowk, Civil Quarters Road, Khadim Hussain Road and other roads particularly Mesile Chowk and Civil Quarter Road were blocked every time due to the violators of traffic rules particularly in rush hours. They demanded the high-ups to transfer the traffic In-charge immediately and re-draw strategy for tackling traffic problems to provide relief to the general public. When contacted DSP Traffic Shahzada Tariq said that all possible efforts would be made for smoothening the flow of traffic in the city and illegal bus and wagon stops had also already been removed from the city. He said the encroachers had also been warned to remove their encroachment from main roads which also caused hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic.
He said that all out efforts would be made to end traffic mess in the city.