Road policing : ITP springs into action under new boss

Traffic police launch drive against public transporters violating rules

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) have renewed efforts to check rampant over-charging and other excesses by public transporters in the capital. The traffic police have launched a drive to enforce rules on public transporters.

The campaign was launched after SSP Farrukh Rasheed took charge of the traffic police last week. Commuters, especially women, have often complained against high-handedness by public transporters in the city. Apart from over-charging, most transporters do not complete their route, compelling the commuters to pay twice for the commute. Commuter also complained of rude behaviour by transporters.

On Monday, the traffic police said they had impounded more than 400 public service vehicles (PSVs) for overcharging, misconduct with passengers, and for not reserving seats for women.

“A massive crackdown was launched and Islamabad Police took action against 10,620 PSVs besides impounding 400 PSVs during last two days for over-charging, misconduct with passengers, accommodating males at women seats and students at roof tops,” a statement issued by ITP said.

SSP Rasheed said that ITP has constituted special squads to curb such violations who are performing duties at various roads, avenues and boulevards. He said those PSVs drivers involved in overloading, misbehaviour and overcharging would have to face action through cancellation of route permits.

The SSP (Traffic) said that purpose of this action is to ensure convenience to citizens who have to commute daily form one place to other at public transport. He said that directions have been issued to drivers to place fare list in vehicles and citizens can lodge their complaints at ITP helpline 1915 or 051-9261992-93.

Rawalpindi traffic

Meanwhile in Rawalpindi, traffic wardens have been directed to take strict action in accordance with thelaw against double parking, wrong parking and one-way violators particularly on main roads of the city to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

According to Rawalpindi Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) SSP Bilal Iftikhar, City Traffic Police (CTP) officials are making all out efforts under a plan formulated to regulate city traffic and facilitate the motorists.

He said traffic wardens and field officers have been directed to take strict action against parking rules violators particularly on main roads including MurreeRoad, Airport Road, Adiala Road, Mall Road, Cantt Road, Bank Road, Peshawar,Judicial Complex, Iqbal, City Saddar roads, Raja Bazar, Fawara Chowk,Commercial Market, Sadiqabad, Pirwadhai and other roads.

He urged the citizens to cooperate with traffic police for smooth flow of traffic on city roads. Wrong parking was one of main cause of traffic mess on the roads.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2018.