Closure of Faizabad Interchange disrupts life

Residents of twin cities face severe mobility issues as police place containers at the interchange

RAWALPINDI:

The closure of Faizabad Interchange – the main junction between the twin cities – in connection with May Day rallies impacted daily life in Rawalpindi and Islamabad adversely.

According to sources, scores of daily wagers returned home empty-handed due to the closure of business and commercial centres at and around Faizabad. Residents of the twin cities faced severe mobility problems.

The city traffic police said that there were reports about likely rallies of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and other labour organisations entering the federal capital via Faizabad with the likelihood of causing disruption of law and order in Islamabad.

Citing the threats, the police placed containers at the interchange, beefing up security measures. The move however badly affected traffic flow and formed long queues of traffic on major thoroughfares.

Gridlocks were formed on Murree Road, Rawal Road, Airport Road, IJP Road, Srinagar Highway, Islamabad Expressway, Stadium Road, Syedpur Road, Chongi No 26 and Motorway Chowk due to Faizabad Interchange’s closure.

After sealing the Faizabad Interchange, the CTP issued a travel advisory and directed the citizens to use alternative routes to enter Islamabad from Rawalpindi instead of the Faizabad Interchange.

Metro bus service remained the only means of direct travel between the twin cities.

All business and commercial centres in Faizabad and adjacent areas remained closed due to which wage labourers were unable to find work.

Muhammad Khan, a labourer who earns a livelihood by working at Faizabad said that Faizabad is not only the main transit point between the twin cities where major business centres and hotels are located. Labourers work all day long to earn a living for their children, he said and added that it is strange to see that authorities are depriving them of a day’s earnings on the very day that is allocated to highlight the hardships of workers.

Sumaira Anjum, a woman who travels from Rawalpindi to Islamabad by public transport said that she earns Rs20,000 per month by working in a private travel agency, to support her family. Due to the closure of the Faizabad Interchange, public transporters dropped off the passengers at Faizabad and charged full fares, she said and added that to reach the office, they changed three more vehicles.

Others said the Islamabad administration should have made alternative arrangements to deal with the situation instead of closing the main junction.

Later, the PTI and All Pakistan Oil Tankers Contractors Association rallies ended before reaching Faizabad. None of the rallies entered the federal capital from Rawalpindi. A heavy contingent of police was deployed to deal with any untoward situation.

After the day-long rallies ended, containers were removed and the Faizabad Interchange was opened for public transport.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2023.