KARACHI, July 23: Haphazard parking of jumbo-sized upcountry buses near Taj Medical Complex, Empress Market, near Old Sabzimandi and Liaquatabad’s Al-Karam Square, have become a major source of traffic jams at these places, causing unnecessary delays and wastage of fuel, besides polluting the atmosphere.

Patients visiting the Taj Medical Complex that houses the Hamdard Medical University hospital and a large number of private clinics, are the worst sufferers owing to high level of noise pollution.

A visit to Taj Medical Complex would show that one of major roads that links the Lines Area has virtually been converted into a terminus of the buses. Whenever buses either reverse their vehicles or take a U-Turn, traffic flowing towards M A Jinnah Road from Empress Market’s Saddar Dawakhana, comes to a halt at the nearby traffic intersection.

Flow of traffic on adjoining streets is also hindered as most of the buses remained parked on a main thoroughfare, situated just behind M. A. Jinnah Road’s Doctors Plaza and on a service road situated in front of Taj Medical Complex and a portion of Mansfield Road.

Moreover, dual parking of the interior-bound buses and frequent movement of heavy goods trailers on a narrow and uneven service road, in front of Al-Akram Square, often result in heavy traffic jams, particularly during peak hours, causing unnecessary delays and inconvenience to motorists.

As a service road (from Liaquatabad No 10 up to Railway’s level-crossing) which was earlier being used as an alternative route for the traffic proceeding towards Karimabad had been lying in bad shape since long, drivers of buses now park their vehicles on the narrow road that leads to Liaquat Flyover and thus create hindrance in the flow of traffic.

The service road has not only become bumpy but it has also developed potholes and craters.

People residing in Al-Karam Square and Al-Azam Square complained that their family members always get disturbed because conductors of the interior-bound buses keep on blowing pressure horns throughout the day to attract passengers.

Besides, there are traffic jams at Liaquatabad No 10 intersection because of presence of pushcarts, selling fruits and other eatables.