KARACHI:
Rawalpindi is one of the busiest cities in Pakistan and suffers from a serious traffic problem. Across the city, there are regular traffic jams and blockades. Kacheri Chowk is one such hub of commotion — it is the largest junction of the city and has a total of eight incoming and outgoing lanes two of which are on GT Road. The junction is found congested throughout the day and becomes extremely chaotic during peak hours. This situation is further worsened if there is a VIP movement.
The chaotic traffic scenes have made it difficult for commuters to reach their destinations on time and are forced to leave earlier than usual. The absence of traffic police to regulate traffic is one reason for the poor traffic conditions. Another reason is the encroachments by shopkeepers near the chowk, which has added to the congestion. The constant traffic is harming business for shopkeepers in nearby bazaars because people avoid visiting them. Also, those living nearby are faced with constant noise and disruption.
Although the government announced plans for the construction of an underpass and the plan had been approved years ago, there still has not been any progress. The number of vehicles is continuously increasing whilst the situation is deteriorating. We request the Rawalpindi Development Authority and other relevant authorities to consider this issue and undertake measures to ease the traffic flow as it will be a major relief for the residents of Rawalpindi.
Muhammad Abubakkar
Rawalpindi
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2022.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
