CTP chalks out traffic plan for Ashura
Ashura procession in Karachi. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The City Traffic Police (CTP) has evolved a comprehensive traffic plan for maintaining smooth flow of vehicular traffic on Ashura Muharram-ul-Haram.
Reviewing Muharram arrangements in Faisalabad on Sunday, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Muhammad Akmal said that 12 sites in the city were declared as “No-go areas” on Ashura, and people have been requested to use alternative routes, which have been highlighted in traffic diversion plan.
He said that about 900 traffic wardens and constables would perform Muharram duty and they would be supervised by sector in-charges and other traffic officers.
He said that the areas from Chiniot Bazaar Chowk to Chartered Bank Mor, from Gumti Chowk to Corporation Mor Chowk, from Chiniot Bazaar Chowk to Chenab Chowk, from Zila Council Chowk to Kutchehry Bazaar Chowk, from Jhang Bazaar Chowk to Kothi Tahir Shah Chowk and from Jhal Chowk to Saleemi Chowk were declared “No-go areas”.
Similarly, the areas from Chiniot Bazaar Chowk to Nisar Akbar Chowk, from Gulberg Road to Kothi Tahir Shah Chowk and Rajbah Road were designated for vehicle parking, he added. He said that the traffic diversion plan would be implemented strictly and travelers would not be allowed to use “No-go areas” at any cost. In this connection, the commuters could use Rajbah Road from Chenab Chowk to GTS Chowk to reach Canal Road or Jail Road. Similarly, the traffic coming from Sargodha Road and Canal Road would use Rajbah Road from GTS Chowk to Chenab Chowk, Dairy Farm Chowk, Kothi Tahir Shah Chowk and Jinnah Colony Chowk to reach Jail Road.
He said that the control room at CTP Complex would remain functional round-the-clock to give prompt response to public complaints, and people could contact the control room through traffic helpline 1915 for taking any guidance or redress of their traffic-related problems.
One-hundred-and-fifty-three processions will be carried out across the district and 25 Majalis held on the Yaum-e-Ashur on Tuesday.
More than 7,000 police personnel will perform their duties of providing security to these processions and Majalis. The main procession will be monitored with the help of drone cameras.
Clearance certificates have also been obtained by the police from the procession routes, houses and owners.
There will be 13 processions and 6 Majalis in Lyallpur Town division, 40 processions and 7 Majalis in Iqbal Town division, 24 processions and four Majalis in Madinah Town division, 37 processions and 5 Majalis in Juranwala division and 39 processions and three Majalis in Sadar division.
On the orders of City Police Officer Umar Saeed Malik, SSP Investigation, SSP Operation, five SPs, 13 DSPs, 18 Inspectors, 14 Sub-Inspectors, 331 ASIs, 2,567 Constables, and more than five hundred volunteers along with 10 Elite Force vehicles, 10 QRF and Dolphin Squad teams will perform security duties for processions and Majalis.
Four-layered fencing has been established for the processions in the second phase in which the volunteer would perform search and identification duties.
In the third phase, the search will be conducted through walk-through gates and metal detectors. Security personnel will also be deployed in places of worship in the fourth phase to ensure peace and harmony during Muharram.
The main procession will be taken out from the central Imambargah Jafaria Trust Mohalla Santpura at 8 o’clock, and it will pass through Bhuana Bazaar and arrive at the Ghanta Ghar where Zuhr prayers will be offered.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2022.