Nightmarish traffic on Pindi roads

Commuters blame provincial government for stalling uplift projects.

RAWALPINDI: The traffic woes on the roads of Rawalpindi have increased. Motorists describe the driving on city roads, especially Benazir Bhutto Road “a nightmare”.

Commuters complain that the main avenues of the garrison city, Benazir Bhutto Road, the Mall and link roads are so crowded that it is difficult even for pedestrians to manoeuvre in the traffic. They blame the Punjab government for its lack of interest in the development of the city and for stalling already approved projects.

The stalled work on the 12 link roads, Benazir Bhutto Road (formerly Murree Road) and the much-awaited Leh Expressway project is adding to the problems of the commuters. It has become difficult to travel inside the historic city. Access to the city markets like Raja Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, China Market and Bara Market has become a difficult task for residents, especially women, children and the elderly, as roads leading towards these markets remain choked throughout the day. “I always avoid going to these markets because of the traffic nuisance there,” said Shaheena Zeb, a schoolteacher.

The new city project announced by the Punjab government, under which flyovers and underpasses were to be constructed on Benazir Bhutto Road, could not come out from the official files.  While the much-anticipated Leh Expressway project, which could have eased the city’s traffic congestion substantially, has also been shelved as it failed to get the nod of higher authorities.

The garrison city’s MNAs and MPAs belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have pledged before media at several news conferences to resolve the cronic traffic issue by launcjing development schemes, but nothing has materialised.

MNA Malik Shakil Awan told The Express Tribune that the projects have been stalled for want of funds. The government diverted development funds towards relief and rehabilitation of the last year’s devastating floods.

A large number of commuters complained that Benazir Bhutto Road, from Mureer Chowk to Committee Chowk and from Waris Khan to Shamsabad, remain clogged for most part of the day. They said that it is almost ‘impossible’ to drive properly on this road due to a large number of obstructions, speedbreakers and lack of road sense among the private and public transporters .

“It is always irritating and tricky to drive on this road,” a frustrating commuter said venti g his anger on the authorities.

Khurram Ali, a resident of Committee Chowk told The Express Tribune that the traffic police, in order to maintain smooth flow of traffic, has closed many road crossings on the road but the measures did not produce the desired results. Motorcyclist kept breaching the barriers, making it difficult for motorists to ply on the road, Ali added.

The former Union Council Nazim Ishtiaq Ahmad blamed the Punjab Government for delaying the development projects. “This has increased sufferings of the common man manifold”.

He criticised the provincial government for abolishing local government system and not introduicng any alternative which has compounded the civic problems, said Ahmad. “had the local bodies’ system intact, the miseries of the citizens could have been reduced significantly,” he maintained.

The commuters also complained of encroachments on roads by vendors narrowing the roads and creating hurdles in smooth flow of traffic. “Link roads are marred with unregulated parkings, stalls and pushcarts. At some places, even the main road is encroached upon,” said Saqib Shah, a resident of Amarpura near Sadiqabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2011.