KARACHI, Jan 16: The ongoing campaign of the traffic police to streamline the chaotic traffic in the city has, so far, failed to produce positive results due to its being confined to a few selected places.

A survey revealed that the traffic police have set up camps at selected places such as Sharea Faisal, which is known as a VIP road, Shershah Suri Road in North Nazimabad, some parts of Sharea Pakistan and other VIP areas where they were seen urging drivers of private and public vehicles through microphones and other measures to follow traffic rules.

However, the traffic police have not paid attention to most of the other roads in the city where there is permanent traffic congestion throughout the day causing hardship to commuters.

One such road is S. M. Taufiq Road in Liaquatabad which begins at the Karimabad end of the 1.75-km long Liaquat flyover.

The flyover was completed after prolonged delays, and when it was opened to traffic people had expected easing of traffic congestion at Liaquatabad No 10. But all such hopes have been belied as there has been no change as regards traffic congestion at and on the flyover or in the area. This is happening mainly due to non-compliance with traffic rules.

Similar are conditions on Business Recorder Road which stretches from Lasbela Bridge up to the Guru Mandir roundabout. This two-km long road is used by thousands of vehicles coming from former districts Central and West for their journey to Saddar and I.I. Chundrigar Road. Since a major portion of the road has been occupied by vehicle repair shops, drivers face problems in travelling on this road. Large-sized intercity buses are also parked on and along this road.

Traffic chaos and reckless driving by drivers of buses and water and oil tankers daily claim many precious lives in the city. The worst part of all this is that the authorities are least concerned about the daily tragedies that occur on the city roads. Proper management of traffic can very well minimize road accidents, both fatal and delibitating. For this is needed empathy, which is something that the authorities lack, people say.

Ruined roads: An important artery passing through Abessinya Lines, adjacent to the Saddar Police Station, has been ruined completely. The dilapidated condition of the road may cause a major accident as heavy vehicles use the road for coming to and going from Saddar towards PECHS, Landhi, Malir, Korangi, Shah Faisal Colony and Quaidabad.

The road, named as Mubarik Ali Road, is also an important artery link for the commuters coming to Saddar from Sharea Faisal. It is situated in the jurisdiction of Saddar Cantonment Board.

Both lanes of the road have deteriorated but the one coming from Saddar towards Sharea Faisal has completely ruined with big pits appearing on it. The commuters are compelled to use the other side of the road.

The road is used by millions of citizens during the peak hours for going to and coming from Saddar and its adjoining areas.

At night, it becomes more dangerous as the street lights have been inoperative. Heavy vehicles plying on the road at night may collide as the lane has become one-way because of the dilapidated condition of the other lane, the area people, shopkeepers and passersby said.

Minor traffic accidents have become a routine and if the authorities did not take an immediate notice of the situation a major accident may occur any time.—PPI