KARACHI, Nov 8: Severe traffic jams are being witnessed in the city since first of Ramazan, due to violation of traffic rules, mostly by drivers of commercial vehicles.
Another factor contributing to traffic jams on Guru Mandir, Britto Road, Nishter Road, Lasbella and Tin Hatti is that the city government has begun construction work simultaneously on Business Recorder Road and Jehangir Road. The closure of the two main roads is causing immense problems to motorists and commuters as the government have not provided alternative routes for huge numbers of private and commercial vehicles.
Traffic jams are occurring mainly as drivers of buses, minibuses and coaches most often than not ignore traffic signals. Those driving private vehicles, including motorcyclists, also tend to ignore traffic signals.
This results in traffic jams. Traffic gets muddled as traffic signals are not honoured. This can be seen at traffic signals on important roads at morning and evening rush hours.
Traffic jams are witnessed during Ramazan almost every year at various intersections, especially as the Iftar time comes closer. As people are in a hurry to be at home for Iftar traffic jams occur at intersections where motorists and commuters get trapped in a deluge of traffic.
Drivers of private vehicles and motorcyclists do violate traffic rules, but not often. They get carried away by drivers of commercial vehicles who hold traffic rules in contempt. The traffic police also appear to be helpless in the face of violations on such a massive scale.
At present traffic jams are being witnessed at different places, including Burnes Road, Eidgah, Tin Hatti, Old Numaish, Nagan Chowrangi, Nazimabad, Pak Colony and Liaquatabad.
Traffic police have been deployed at crowded places, but they are unable to keep traffic flow smooth, especially in the evening.
A senior police officer said: “We have deployed traffic cops at various places to control traffic flow. All DSPs, SPs and other high officials have also been instructed to remain in the field to keep traffic smooth.”
However, it was witnessed that traffic jams are occurring as there is not the required number of personnel to control such huge traffic.
A random visit to various places in the city showed that at relatively isolated areas traffic cops hid themselves at corners some distance ahead of traffic signals to catch motorists unawares, especially motorcyclists, who violate traffic signals. Traffic cops were seen asking for bribes from motorcyclists who allegedly violated traffic signals. They are threatened that they would be fined several hundreds of rupees if they do not pay them a small bribe. This kind of deals take place for most part of the day and night.
The traffic police department has been claiming that it has a shortage of personnel. It says the total strength of traffic police in the city is 2,572 who are supposed to control more than vehicles and enforce rules and regulations.
On an average there is only one cop for more than 400 vehicles, the department says. There are only 72 traffic sections in the city. However, the available strength of the traffic police force is not being utilized properly.
As for instance, a visit to a crowded area of Liaquatabad showed that traffic cops were present on a portion of S. M. Taufeeq Road, running between Liquatabad No. 10 and Dak Khana. Each artery of the dual carriageway has been bifurcated to facilitate private vehicles and to ensure smooth flow of traffic. One portion of the bifurcated road has been reserved for commercial vehicles, including buses, minibuses, and coaches. Traffic cops remain deputed on both the roads. They signal drivers of commercial vehicles to take their vehicles on their allocated road. It has often been witnessed that drivers of commercial vehicles ignore the instructions of traffic police who helplessly see these drivers driving on the road meant for private vehicles.
An irritated motorist said policemen did not challan errant drivers of commercial vehicles. “Possibly, either traffic do not have powers to challan or they are paid bribe on a monthly basis to turn a blind eye to violations.”
Such traffic violations, especially by commercial vehicles, can be witnessed daily at various places, including the Lasbella traffic signal, the Bara Board intersection, different points on M. A. Jinnah Road, the Nipa intersection, the Aisha Manzil crossing, Nagan Chowrangi, the roundabout of Secondary Board of Education in North Nazimabad, Bacha Khan Chowk, and many roads in Landhi, Malir, and Korangi.
Traffic cops remain present at most of the places during rush hours, but they do not bother to control traffic, especially between 5pm and 10pm, as do not have the fear of surprise check by their superiors.
KARACHI, Nov 8: Severe traffic jams are being witnessed in the city since first of Ramazan, due to violation of traffic rules, mostly by drivers of commercial vehicles.
