Alternate road demanded to overcome traffic congestion

Abbottabad traffic police ask civic agencies to crack down on encroachments

ABBOTABAD:

Traffic police have demanded the construction of an alternate road from Abbottabad University of Science and Technology to Abbottabad Public School to overcome traffic congestion in the city.

SSP Traffic Abbottabad Qamar Hayat Khan while briefing the Citizens’ Traffic Committee (CTC) on Thursday, said that there was an influx of goods transport in the city, causing traffic congestion in Salhad, General Bus Stand, Kareem Pura, Radio Station, Ayub Medical Complex and Qalanderabad Bazaar.

He said that pedestrian crossings were also causing traffic congestion at different locations including Fawara Sarban Chowk, CMH, Supply Bazaar, Missile Chowk and near Ayub Medical Complex, where overhead bridges were required to be constructed.

CTC Chairman Nazeer Ahmed Awan lauded the efforts of SSP traffic and assured him of full support to resolve traffic problems in the city.

The SSP traffic asked the National Highway Authority, the Tehsil Municipal Administration and the Abbottabad Cantonment Board to clear drain channels from Supply Bazaar up to Ayub Medical Complex.

He pointed out that dedicated U-turns should be made operational soon. The NHA is working on several U-turns to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow and work on one U-turn has been completed.

SSP Traffic Qamar Hayat pointed out that narrow roads, weak road infrastructure, non-existence of parking places, encroachments and absence of pedestrian overhead bridges were contributing to traffic jams in the city.

He said that a large number of plazas and shopping malls on the main Karakoram Highway in Abbottabad have no parking space and motorists have to park vehicles along roads, causing traffic snarl-ups.

The traffic police officer said that 1,635 motorcycles were impounded in a month's time for violating the helmet law. Similarly, he said 22,212 tinted glass vehicles were fined Rs11 million in the last three months.

He said that Abbottabad traffic police have launched a digital app that has different features including live updates of roads, traffic status, online appointment for driving licence, challan payment verification, driving licence verification, and complaint disposals.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2022.