PESHAWAR, Feb 23: Almost all major and minor roads in the metropolis are in a bad state, making it difficult for the traffic to ply smoothly.

Officials say that the increase in the number of vehicles is the main reason for the damage caused to the roads which were originally not built for such heavy traffic.

Major routes like Circular Road, Dalazak Road, Pandu Road, Nothia Road, Pajaggi Road, Gulbahar Road, Ashraf Road, Lahori Road, Ramdas Road, Swati Chowk and Stadium Chowk are in worst state.

Even the inter-city roads, including Peshawar-Charsadda, Peshawar-Kohat and Peshawar-Islamabad Road are not any better. Travelling on these country roads is not hazard free at any time of the day or night.

Large cracks and potholes have appeared in the roads which have slowed down the traffic.

For example Dalazak Road, built in the 1980s, which serves heavy freight traffic coming from the outskirts has been badly damaged and is in need of urgent repairs.

Mian Iqbal intersection too is in a pathetic condition. The traffic police have made temporary arrangements by blocking the intersection from the two sides with concrete slabs.

Open manholes and damaged roads from the four sides of Mian Iqbal Chowk have added to the miseries of the people.

The traffic police are unable to install traffic signals and signs. Even the Cantonment Board seems indifferent to the situation.

Vehicular traffic in Peshawar is on the increase without the possibility of adding new roads or shoulders to the existing once.

According to police estimates more than 50,000 vehicles enter the city every day, most of which are not roadworthy.

Figures compiled by the Bureau of Statistics, Planning and Development Department revealed that the number of registered vehicles in the Peshawar district is over 124,122 including 35,352 motorcycles and scooters, 46,345 motor cars/jeeps, 5,061 tractors, 11,319 buses and mini buses, 7,128 motor cabs, 11,441 auto rickshaws, 4,432 delivery vans/station wagons, 334 private trucks, 1,657 public carrier trucks and 1,053 vehicles.

An uncounted number of unregistered vehicles including auto rickshaws, cars and mini-buses are also plying the roads. The large number Afghan refugees in the city are also a burdened on the roads.

Nazim Town-1 Haroon Bilour when contacted said that the district government had limited resources, hence it was not possible to undertake major roadworks.

Initially, he said, the district government had allocated Rs5 million from the Khushal Pakistan Programme for the maintenance and repairs to the City Circular Road and Ashraf Road.

He said that the government intends to first remove encroachments before starting repairs to the roads. Notices have already been served to shopkeepers in Town-1 to voluntarily remove encroachments by Feb 24.