The Capital Development Authority (CDA) asked the authorities concerned to prepare the feasibility reports within three days to resolve the traffic issues in the city here on Monday. In the first phase, flyovers and underpasses will be constructed at Margala road, in F-10, and E-11 for streamlining the traffic.
According to detail, CDA has decided to take important steps for resolving the issues of traffic in Islamabad. The concerned departments including Engineering, Finance, and Planning have been directed to submit the feasibility report for the construction of flyover and underpasses on Margala Road, Shaheen Chowk Sector F-10, and F-10 east road so that the work on the projects can be started in February.
Traffic issues in Islamabad were increasing day by day, therefore CDA has decided to resolve these issues. A number of traffic issues were being witnessed at Margal road, therefore it was inevitable to resolve these issues. CDA has asked the concerned departments to prepare the first feasibility reports within three days so that the traffic issues at Margala road and its adjoining areas can be resolved.
The capital city is braving several challenges mainly the absence of innovative methods to tackle chronic traffic congestion, poor road infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted mobility of plying vehicles.
A glimpse of regulated road traffic is enough to ascertain a nation's self-discipline. Traffic that flows smoothly is an indicator of a country's progress.
World over, developed countries have embraced scientific road management to address growing traffic challenges. However, with Islamabad being the capital, if we consider it a mirror to the entire country's traffic management system, the reflection is not that good.
There are three key stakeholders- Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP), Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the public- which play a crucial role in ensuring hassle and risk free traffic movement in Islamabad.
The ITP, an efficient force established in 2005 to ensure regulated movement of vehicles on the city's thoroughfares, requires a revamp as it is currently operating with 628 officials, fewer instruments to cope with an emergency situation and minimal challenging amount," said a top official of ITP.
Highlighting the ITP's issues, the official said, his staff works 14 hours to deal with huge traffic influx on main arteries of the capital. During the last decade, traffic jams during peak hours, markets' blockades have occurred hundreds of times due to illegal parking and VIP movements.
He underlined the need for enhancing the amount required to pay off a challan as deterrence against violators proved effective to bring behavioural changes in them. “We can issue only Rs500 against major violation," he regretted. He also urged upon the CDA to install traffic related road furniture as enforcement necessitates road signs, warning boards, zebra crossing and updated lane marking.
The CDA was supposed to facilitate the ITP in matters ranging from upgrading of the capital's road infrastructure, including construction of roads, underpasses, overhead bridges, signal free facilities to installation of road furniture.The "Future Planned Projects" placed on the list of development schemes for the city in January 2017 pertaining to road infrastructure could not be materialised due to bureaucratic snags and technical issues.
This includes overpasses on Nazim-ud-Din Road and Fazal-e-Haq Road over Faisal Avenue (700m); underpass at the Shakarparian Intersection on Islamabad Highway; interchange at intersection of 9th Avenue and Jinnah Avenue; interchange at I.J.P Road and 9th Avenue; interchange at Koral Chowk on Islamabad Express way and others.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2020.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ