Metro Bus closure adds to traffic woes in twin cities

Red busses darting between the twin cities were grounded to prevent Covid-19 outbreak

RAWALPINDI:

The closure of Metro Bus service in the twin cities for four months has compounded the traffic problems on major thoroughfares.

The red busses darting between the twin cities had been grounded along with other public transport vehicles as part of social distancing directives to control the spread of coronavirus.

The rest of public transport has come on roads with prescribed SOPs, however, Metro Bus services remain closed. An officer of City Traffic Police speaking on condition of anonymity told The Express Tribune that the closure of Metro Bus service has caused more traffic problems on Murree Road, Mall Road, Rawal Road, Saidpur Road, IJP Road and Double Road.

At least 13000 passengers used to travel via Metro bus daily to get to different places between Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Many people would leave their cars and motorbikes in the parking area and took the bus to city centre, and on the way back, they would drive home in their vehicles, the officer explained.

Due to closure of Metro Bus service, an increased numbers of cars and bikes were entering the city’s main commercial areas creating a traffic snarl daily, he said.

Due to severe traffic pressure on the link roads, Liaquat Bagh Road, Sixth Road, Chandni Chowk, Asghar Mall Road, Committee Chowk, Iqbal Road, traffic jams have become common place during the five working days.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2020.