Karachi’s traffic dilemma

Poor urban planning, coupled with the growing number of vehicles on Karachi’s roads, has made commuting in the metropolis a nightmare. Hours-long traffic jams during peak hours and fatal accidents are a daily occurrence. In a turn of events, the Sindh government has finally paid heed to the decade-long issue and expressed plans to improve traffic flow in the city. The use of tinted glasses, illegal pressure horns and number plates, and bar lights are rampant across the city. These vehicles not only cause disturbance on roads but also make it easier for drivers to violate traffic laws and get away in hit-and-run accidents as culprits cannot be traced or identified. The authorities have directed traffic police to impound cars with fake and fancy number plates and fine owners.

Parking spaces from the service lane of the University Road will also be removed to improve traffic flow. However, it is crucial to either entirely remove or reduce parking spaces from all busy areas and major roads to see any improvements. Besides this, lanes should be designated for different vehicles, particularly motorcycles and rickshaws, to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

According to the DIG Traffic, 15,704 drivers have been arrested for rules violations so far this year, while fitness certificates of 3,421 vehicles have been suspended during this time. Evidently, arbitrary and restricted measures have done little to resolve the city’s traffic dilemma. Poor road infrastructure has further aggravated the problem. To make real progress, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the District Municipal Corporation and the Cantonment Boards must acknowledge the issues and work together under government supervision to form a holistic and coherent strategy. Crucially, they must realise that following up on plans can go a long way, otherwise this too will be added to the long list of failed traffic plans.