Transit: Traffic police attempts to streamline public transport

Warns transporters of strict action if found plying without route permits.

PESHAWAR:

Taking notice of increasing traffic jams in the provincial metropolis, the city police on Tuesday launched a comprehensive campaign against public transporters plying vehicles without route permits.

Police warned taxi, rickshaw and bus owners of strict legal action including fines, confinement of the driver and impounding vehicles, if they are found operating without route permits.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) traffic police said the number of unregistered rickshaws has reached an alarming number of 40,000 in Peshawar city, adding that if such measures are not taken, “It would become impossible to cross roads due to heavy traffic.” He said the traffic police has finalised a proposal in consultation with rickshaw drivers’ union under which all rickshaws would be divided in two colours, with one allowed to operation on prescribed routes in the morning till afternoon and the other from the afternoon till late in the night.

Residents are facing problems due to the city’s traffic mess while a large number of commuters including senior citizens, women and students complain of insufficient transport. They have demanded the government to either overhaul the general transport service or launch a mass transit system in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2012.