KARACHI, April 14: Chaotic traffic conditions have become a regular feature at the Lea Market roundabout, particularly near Azam Khan Hotel, because of parking of buses, coaches and wagons in the middle of the road by the transporters of Balochistan and the NWFP.
Worst traffic jams are witnessed daily on all link roads to the market, including Sheedi village, Mir Mohammad Baloch Road and G. Allana Road.
The situation becomes horrible in the peak hours in the morning and evening, creating problems for pedestrians and motorists.
Last month, the Lyari Town administration had launched a campaign for the shifting of transport businesses from the residential areas of the town, but the campaign was withdrawn because of the pressure of higher officials.
The town administration has complained that the non- cooperative attitude of the higher officials was one of the main factors causing hurdles in the operation against the transport mafia.
The transporters claim that they are ready to shift their businesses in case they are provided alternative site for parking of their vehicles.
Lea Market has been converted into a big bus terminus where transport mafia reigns supreme, virtually controlling all important arteries, leading to Saddar and Lyari towns.
Over the past few years, the mafia seems to have become so powerful that it has started challenging the writ of civil authorities as it has foiled all repeated attempts to stop its operation in residential areas.
The mafia now has a total control on every inch of land in Lea Market and its adjoining areas.
A survey shows that transporters regularly flout all traffic rules and police fail to take any notice of it.
It is observed that all types of vehicles arrive here from the city and the upcountry, and a complete chaos prevails during the peak hours of morning and evening when the upcountry transporters park their vehicles in the middle of roads, blocking traffic flow in complete violation of rules.
Despite the fact that directives have been issued by the higher traffic police officials for an improvement in the traffic flow in Lyari Town, no improvement has been witnessed.
Following assurances given by the higher traffic officials last week for a better traffic arrangement in the Lea Market roundabout and its link roads, the town administration had withdrawn its agitational plan against the transporters.
On April 2, the DIGP (Traffic), Karachi, accompanied by the Town Nazim, visited the Lyari Town and issued orders for improvement in traffic flow.
The decisions pertained to restrictions on parking of trucks and other heavy vehicles on both sides of G. Allana Road, removal of unauthorised encroachments and parking of vehicles in the middle of Mirza Adam Khan Road.
It was also decided that there would be no parking of vehicles in the middle of the road or near the roundabout of Azam Khan Road.
During a visit to the Sheedi Village Road, the DIGP (Traffic) personal saw that a large number of Hub Chowki and Quetta-bound buses were parked near the roundabout, creating obstructions in the traffic flow.
These orders, which are to be implemented immediately, have so far not been implemented.
Area people allege that the police do not take notice of violations because of their collusion with transport mafia.
Admitting that they have failed to shift the transport business from residential areas, municipal authorities blamed the police for their non-cooperative attitude in this regard.
The unnatural division of Lyari Town, depriving it of its main commercial area — Lea Market — and merging it into Saddar Town has further complicated the problems for the administrations of both the towns.
Under the new arrangement, the main market areas comes under the jurisdiction of Saddar Town, while the main routes come under the Lyari Town.
The municipal administrations of both the towns had issued several orders for shifting of their businesses from the residential areas, but on every occasion, the city or the town administration succumbed to pressures.
Because of their powerful connections and political reasons, the mafia had always ignored the orders of the city government and the town administration.
Area people have been consistently demanding that the transport business be shifted from the residential areas to save them from environmental pollution.
