Preemptive measures: Traffic plan promises clear roads in last 15 days of Ramazan

Anti-encroachment drive across the city to ease the flow of traffic.

PESHAWAR: Traffic police have launched a massive anti-encroachment drive across the city and around 140 people have been arrested since the start of Ramazan. This is in addition to a special traffic plan created for the last 15 days of the month of fasting.

According to a traffic police official, encroachment was the main impediment in the free flow of traffic on city roads. A campaign has been carried out in University Road, Board Bazaar, City Circular Road, Chowk Yadgar, Khyber Bazaar and on GT Road with the aim of reducing congestion.

“We have arrested at least 140 people on the charges of encroachment and registered 55 FIRs against them,” he said.



The official explained car dealers on University Road have been asked not to display their vehicles on the service lane as it clogs up the route. “We have arrested four owners of these car showrooms,” he added.

The deputy commissioner’s office wanted to arrange a bachat bazaar in Sabzi Mandi, but the city’s traffic police did not allow it, he said. Instead, they have suggested the discount fair should be held in an open area like Shahi Bagh, said the traffic police official.

A traffic plan has been worked out, especially for the last 15 days of Ramazan, as people are expected to flock to the markets for Eid shopping. This normally results in chaos on the roads.

“Around 120 additional policemen would be deployed to control traffic across the city. Twenty rider squads will be deputed at Saddar, University Town and Tehkal,” shared the official. In the last 10 days of Ramazan, roads in Qissa Khawani and Misgaran will function as one-way routes to help avoid traffic jams.

“There are four traffic DSPs who have been asked to be on the roads in the last 15 days of Ramazan to keep a check on the traffic situation.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2013.