NHA to ensure smoother traffic in Abbottabad

Official says portion between Allah Hoo Chowk, Havelian Interchange to be improved soon

ABBOTTABAD:

The National Highway Authority (NHA) has been taking steps to ensure a smooth flow of traffic in Abbottabad city and it had rehabilitated the city portion of Abbottabad so far.

An official of NHA on Saturday that the remaining portion between Allah Hoo Chowk and Havelian Interchange would be rehabilitated after the finalisation of the procurement of periodic maintenance contracts.

He said that traffic management in the city was the responsibility of the traffic police and local administration; however, the NHA always remained in close coordination for any assistance and cooperation in this regard. He added that the estimate for the installation of a pedestrian bridge at Sarban Chowk is in the process of approval by the authority.

Moreover, he said that the NHA has initiated the widening and improvement of the Abbottabad Built-up Area Project from Muslim Abad to Shaheena Jamil Hospital. The total length of the project was 17 kilometers.

The project included three packages 6.8 km Muslimabad-Bus stand package, a 1.6 km bus stand- Allah Hoo Chowk package, and an 8.5 km Allah Hoo Chowk-APS package.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) police Hazara division Mirwais Niaz Friday said that provision and controlling security during the election is no less of a challenge as many polling stations were declared sensitive and most sensitive during the second phase of Local Body elections in Hazara division.

“We knew the situation while some of the polling stations those were normal but posed threat on election day,” he said while addressing a prize distribution ceremony for the best-performing police officers and Jawans of district Abbottabad during the LB polls.

About 140 officers and Jawans from Abbottabad district were awarded certificates of appreciation by DIG Hazara for their valuable services. The DIG further said that the way Abbottabad police have maintained law and order at these polling stations and worked in a highly professional manner is commendable.

He said that such ceremonies in honour of hard-working policemen would not only encourage them but next time they would perform with religious zeal Mirwais Niaz said that the credit goes to DPO Abbottabad Zahoor Babar Afridi in this regard who brought together the officers and Jawans of all departments.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2022.