Heavy vehicles blamed for traffic jams in city

Drivers of trailer trucks, dumpers defy ban on entering city before 11am

RAWALPINDI:

The drivers of heavy transport vehicles drive fearlessly through the roads of the garrison city before the designated time while the traffic police and district administration overlook the matter.

Heavy traffic was allowed to enter the city late in the night till early morning but the drivers of trailer trucks and dumpers ply their vehicles on city roads irrespective of this condition, The Express Tribune observed during a survey.

Traders having shops located between Bhatta Chowk and Bakra Mandi Chowk are exasperated as the long queues of heavy traffic during peak hours affected their businesses. They have called for the administration to take notice of the violation by the truck drivers.

The City Traffic Police (CTP) have allowed heavy transport to ply on roads between 11pm to 7am only. However, the large vehicles become visible on different roads particularly from Chastaabad and Bhatta Chowk from the evening.

The presence of heavy vehicles not only impedes traffic movement but it is also impacting the businesses as the slow lanes of the roads get entirely occupied.

The traffic jams have also become a routine on different roads including Chakra, Dhok Gujran, Officers Colony, Dhok Syedan, Chakri Road, etc.

The traders have called for the administration to take notice of the situation. They say that long queues of heavy vehicles on the road prevent customers from visiting their shops. If the issue remains unaddressed, the traders have warned of staging a sit-in at Misaryal Road until the administration fulfilled its duties.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2020.