Driving long hours on jam-packed roads only adds to the ordeal of one’s mundane routine
ISLAMABAD: The newly-renovated highway, in the capital city of the country, turning signal-free has come as a sigh of relief to the people travelling daily to Islamabad via Rawalpindi, as it saves a lot of time. However, the Capital Development Authority has also installed three automated check posts right at the centre of the highway. In terms of security of the motorists, this might be a very good step in accordance with the surveillance cameras that have been installed at every main road and avenue. But considering the present situation of traffic jams during the crucial work hours, at least five days a week, these checkpoints distorts the purpose of the highway being signal-free.
It, in fact, raises questions on the prioritisation and planning of the authorities concerned. The reason why a signal-free highway was built, in the first place, was that there were no signals, stopping points, on the road, affecting the flow of traffic. Hence, giving way to a smooth flow of traffic but the reverse seems to be happening at the moment.
Pakistan is constantly progressing and as much as I appreciate the government’s effort to build infrastructure to facilitate its citizens, constructive criticism can go a long way. Most infrastructural projects in the past have been improved through adequate feedback from stakeholders, the civilians being one of them. Hence, as a citizen, who travels daily on these roads, I understand the amount of trouble the motorists have to go through. It is not easy to drive for long hours on jam-packed roads as it only adds to the ordeal of one’s mundane routine. I request the development authorities concerned to come up with a solution that pleases everyone.
Shafeh Mehmood Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2017.
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