KARACHI: Police fail to regulate traffic in Lea Market
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, July 24: Police have failed to regulate traffic flow at Lea Market roundabout which is the entry point of Lyari Town and connects the town with Saddar Town.
Talking to Dawn, a town official termed the situation at this location ‘deplorable’ and admitted that traffic rules and relevant laws were being violated in broad daylight by the operators of inter-provincial transport service without any fear of accountability.
The official pointed out that the town administration had approached the responsible traffic police officials recently once again and drew their attention to the public inconvenience.
He agreed that worst chaotic scenes were witnessed in Lea Market area, particularly in the peak hours in the morning and evening when people had to rush to their work place or return home.
Surveys conducted by different NGOs show that hundreds of roadside vendors have occupied the entire footpaths in the market area by greasing the palms of police officials to continue their business.
The surveys also show that the situation has aggravated further recently with the increase in the number of vehicles and their parking in the middle of roads.
The town Nazims of Lyari and Saddar have repeatedly sought the traffic police help in taking effective measures to get rid of traffic mess along the main thoroughfares Lyari.
The Lyari Town administration has many a times taken up the issue of traffic jams and the police failure with the DIG Traffic.
The Town Nazim pointed out that some of the worst traffic jams hadbeen experienced by commuters and pedestrians at the Lea Market roundabout and Sheedi Village because of the haphazard parking along the Sheedi Village Road where all types of vehicles of inter-cities routes and upcountry routes arrive and depart.
He also reminded the DIG of his pledge, that he made during his visit to the town in April last, to improve the situation. However, the Nazim regretted, no improvement could have been brought about so far.
Under the present arrangement, most of the upcountry-bound vehicles are routed through Lea Market or Sheedi Village Road which causes horrible traffic jams in the downtown especially during peaks hours.
The traffic mess consumes a lot of time and energy of the stranded commuters most ofintending to reach their work places.
These commuters, in their bid to save time, are compelled to travel in overcrowded buses, mini buses and coaches and thus expose themselves to serious hazards.
It is often noticed that the traffic police are more interested in booking or extorting the offenders of traffic laws than regulating the traffic flow or guiding the commuters.
