Citizens bemoan traffic jams

Officials say efforts being made to regularise traffic on Faisal Avenue

ISLAMABAD:

Traffic jams have become a routine matter on Faisal Avenue, as all the vehicles coming from Ibn-e-Sina Road, cross Faisal Avenue and make a U-turn to reach Fazl-e-Huq Road.

“Ibn-e-Sina Road junction has created a bottleneck. People coming from PIMS and G-9, block the flow of traffic as they cross the Faisal Avenue from centre to make a U-turn," informed Irfan Tariq, a businessman who takes this route daily to reach his office.

Meanwhile, Asma Haleem, a doctor who travels on Faisal Avenue daily, said that she had to wait more than 10 minutes daily to get through this traffic jam. "The traffic coming from G-8 side doesn't bother to travel a few metres at Faisal Avenue to make a U-turn from the Blue Area signal. Instead, it simply crosses Jinnah Avenue after blocking the entire traffic coming from the Zero-Point side," she added.

However, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Cell Director said that they had already submitted a proposal before the Directorate of Roads (North) to solve this issue. "We have proposed to extend the line of cat eyes to bar the traffic coming from Ibn-e-Sina Road to cross Faisal Avenue. We shall also install signboards at the junction to guide commuters to make a U-turn from the Blue Area Signal," the Director informed.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) (Traffic), Capt (retd) Mazher Iqbal said he was already familiar with the issue. "I, along with the Inspector General of Police (IG), visited the site a few days ago to find its solution. I think cat eyes will not be enough to prevent traffic from Ibn-e-Sina Road to cross Faisal Avenue. That is why I recommended that a wall should be mounted to part the ways of traffic coming from both sides," he added.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2022.