Traffic problems: Severe parking issues in Gilgit

Non-custom paid vehicles contributing to increasing traffic.

GILGIT:

The increasing number of vehicles in Gilgit has compounded parking issues in Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) main markets, creating problems for local people.

“It has become a serious issue and is bound to get worse in future,” said Qayyum Khan, a wholesaler in one of Gilgit’s busiest markets.

Although the newly constructed markets in Gilgit have reserved space for parking, shopkeepers and visitors say the space is not enough, especially during rush hours.

Also, the absence of parking space in the old market results in long traffic jams, as people are forced to park their cars on the roadsides.

Madina Market, Makkah Market, NLI Market, Garibagh Market, Nasreen Film Hall Chowk, Jamia Masjid and Jamat Khan Bazaar all have parking issues. The increasing number of vehicles is also creating problems for the traffic police in keeping the traffic flow intact during day time.

A traffic police officer said most of the roads in Gilgit are single roads, contributing to the congested traffic.

The number of vehicles in the city have increased manifold after non-custom paid (NCP) made their way to Gilgit. “The number of cars has climbed up sharply as the majority of the residents can afford to buy a car due to the inflow of NCP vehicles,” said a car dealer.

According to officials, 10,000 NCP cars were registered in G-B recently, while there are hundreds of cars which haven’t been registered with the customs and excise department.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2011.