February 06, 2008	Wednesday	Muharram 27, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 5: Frequent jams have become a permanent feature at the traffic intersection of Lea Market which has been virtually converted into an illegal terminus with all types of buses plying on different intercity and inter-province routes parked here in connivance with the police and authorities concerned.

A complete chaos is witnessed during the rush hours when upcountry transporters park their vehicles in the middle of the road and the roundabout in complete violation of traffic rules.

Area people allege the police take no action as they act in collusion with the transport mafia which has become so powerful that it now controls all the surroundings of the market.

Lea Market has become one of the most congested areas of the city over the years.

Roadside encroachments are also the cause of obstructions in smooth flow of traffic while both the city and town administrations have failed to remove these illegal structures.

It is noticed that all the open spaces previously used for parking purposes now have buildings on them, causing bus operators to park the vehicles on roads.

Local buses and minibuses terminating their journey here ply from Landhi, Malir, Quaidabad, Gadap and Korangi.

These vehicles are parked in the middle of the road. A small plot available for parking is used by the buses that ply on routes of Thatta, Sajawal, Badin, Sehwan. However, the plot is insufficient to accommodate the large buses, which was another factor behind the area congestion.

The buses plying on inter-province routes arrive here from Hub, Khuzdar, Turbat, Quetta, Gwadar and Peshawar. The number of these buses has increased manifold over the years as several people working in Hub and Bela come to the Lea Market for their onward journey.

A small terminus that has developed at Sheedi Village and Chawkiwara roads is gradually encroaching upon the old tonga stand.

Almost every building around Lea Market has a warehouse or some storage facility at its ground floor.

A large number of goods trucks enter the area for loading or unloading goods. The activity goes on all the day or even at night.

These trucks are not only a cause of traffic congestion but also a major source of pollution.

Moreover, there is a wholesale milk market in Lea Market. The pickup trucks which bring milk from various parks on the main roundabout of the Lea Market block the traffic all the day.