01 January 2005	Saturday	19 Ziqa'ad 1425

KARACHI, Dec 31: The city government has finalized an action plan to put an end to accidents at the Nagan Chowrangi.

A city government official said the action plan included checking violation of traffic signals, illegal traffic movements, high speed, display of banners at low height obstructing drivers' vision, and frequent power failure disrupting signal system.

The plan said that traffic generated in North Karachi and Surjani towns and going towards the city centre and Sohrab Goth passed through this intersection.

According to the traffic volume survey, a total of 207,252 vehicles passed through it daily. The maximum traffic movement was directed towards Sakhi Hassan and North Karachi.

The total composition of traffic consisted of 32.25 per cent motorcycles and 40.21 per cent cars/jeeps/suzukis. Although, the percentage of minibuses and buses, and trucks and trailers was low i.e. 13.5 and 0.42 per cent respectively, their contribution to the accident rate was predominant.

However, the report adds that the recently occurred two accidents were not exactly at Nagan Chowrangi; however, the Chowrangi was said to be the root cause of one of the accidents, which took the lives of two girls.

The action plan sets certain recommendations for improving the situation by removing illegal encroachments and taxi stands existing at the intersection, while holding the town municipal administration and area police responsible for making the area free from encroachments.

Speed control measures had also been proposed at approaches of all three arterial links by lane markings, arrow markings, pedestrian crossings and delineation of facing islands. All markings would be supplemented with road studs and cat's eyes with the provision of guide signs and traffic signs.

Some minor physical improvements to the chowrangi were required. There were also certain points, which required vigilant manning by traffic police such as enforcement of bus stops and taxi stands, prevention of illegal movements and manual control of intersection when the traffic signal was out of work.

The report meanwhile identified from the traffic flow pattern that there was very little traffic on approaches to Unda More and Godhra. Considering the accident rate, it was recommends that a study be undertaken on priority basis by appointing consultants for providing grade-separated facility at this location.

CONTINGENCY PLAN: The District Coordination Officer, Karachi has directed the Fire Brigade and Civil Defence departments of the city government to devise a foolproof contingency plan considering the disaster caused by the recent tsunami that hit nine Indian Ocean countries. - PPI