TRAFFIC in Karachi keeps expanding and taking a toll on human lives and property with no signs of law-enforcement agencies and the City Government bringing relief to Karachiites already buckling under electricity loadshedding and water shortage.
The unchecked rampage of mini-buses, trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles inflicts unbearable torture on the poor drivers who find it extremely difficult to cope up with blatant violations of traffic laws. The menace of erratic driving by motorcyclists has further compounded the situation and they have little respect for traffic laws. Violating traffic signals has now become a routine for motorcyclists as they have become expert in dodging the so-called vigilant traffic policemen. Three people riding a bike is also an all-too-common sight these days.
When contacted to discuss the traffic chaos, DIG Traffic, Yameen Khan, appeared helpless to control the situation. According to the figures provided by him, Karachi had a total of 1,177,315 vehicles by the end of 2003. The total included 440,063 motorcycles, 534,531 cars and jeeps, 33,003 rickshaws, 39,967 taxis, 18,390 buses and mini-buses, 19,431 tracks, 88,500 delivery vans and pick-ups and 3,430 tractors.
There was an increase of about 65,000 vehicles in Karachi during 2003, which comes to registration of 178 vehicles every day. An average of seven vehicles come on the road per hour. Ten years ago, in 1993, the total of vehicles were 832,885. And according to calculations there will be an increase of 650,000 vehicles during the next decade, with the total number jumping to around 1,900,000. One can imagine the rampage and destruction that will be on the roads of Karachi.
According to various surveys and assessments, 3,000 to 4,000 persons enter the metropolis every day making it difficult for permanent residents to secure facilities and access to utility services. These people first settle down in kutchi abadis (slum areas) and then shift to the urban area causing hardships in transportation.
Mr Khan emphasized the need of 5,000 buses for the city, but only 60 Green Buses have recently been brought by the City Government. It is obvious that there will be chaos and battles to grab a berth in cheaper transport as 80 per cent of the population cannot afford to travel in rickshaws, taxis and hired vehicles.
But more importantly, civic agencies are compounding the miseries of pedestrians by not removing encroachments, not constructing proper footpaths, Zebra Crossings or providing other amenities. As a result, 52 per cent pedestrians get killed in road accidents. It is through the sheer negligence and ignorance of the City Government that despite generating huge funds from charged parking and other sources, there is little expenditure on improving Karachi’s infrastructure. It is learnt that charged parking hauls Rs60 million from contractors, President’s package of Rs29 billion for Tameer-i-Karachi and other sources for financial has failed to motivate the civic agencies to show some progress in this direction.
The traffic police believes that punitive action against violators of the law is the only solution under the circumstances and accordingly, the new ticketing system has been introduced. During 2003, an amount of Rs130 million was collected by mobile magistrates and by issuance of violation tickets. Out of the total, 30 per cent was allocated to traffic department which was further cut into half, distributing it as rewards to the personnel. Only a residue of Rs8 million could be set aside for improvements in the working of the traffic police.
The authorities are now clamping a ban on use of mobile telephones while driving. This was one of the causes that led to many road accidents. On many occasions, it was observed that a driver using a mobile phone obstructed an already congested traffic flow, raising tempers on the road. Even motorbike riders are seen using mobile phones while driving with one hand.
In addition to road accidents, the said number of vehicles is causing a colossal damage to environment and proving to be a serious health hazard. The traffic police do not have proper equipment to check emission of smoke and noise. They conduct audio-visual inspection at the time of issuing fitness certificates. The reason for not effectively implementing traffic laws include shortages of manpower, vehicles, wireless sets, encroachments, dilapidated roads, poor traffic engineering, violation of KBCA bylaws, conversion of parking space into shops, lack of lane markings and alternate transport system, old model commercial fleet, car showrooms, illegal inter-city and inter-province bus terminals (197), advertisement boards and hawkers’ zones.
According to studies, pollution caused by industrial emissions and automobile exhaust can cause asthma. In large cities that have air pollution problems, the number of emergency department cases suffering from asthma attacks escalates when air quality is very poor. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is produced when fuels such as gasoline are burned. Because it is colourless, tasteless, odourless and nonirritating, it can affect the exposed person without any warning. It produces weakness and confusion, depriving the person of the ability to seek safety.
There are also some indications that noise pollution can increase susceptibility to viral infections and toxic substances. Loud sounds can cause an arousal response in which a series of reactions occur in the body. Adrenalin is released into the bloodstream; heart rate, blood pressure and respiration increase; gastrointestinal motility is inhibited; peripheral blood vessels constrict and muscles become tense. On the conscious level, we are alerted and prepared to take action. Quite a few field studies have been done to examine the relationship between noise and illness. In these studies, noise has been related to the following diseases: headaches, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, neuroticism, hypertension, hypotension, cardiac disease, ulcers and colitis.
Some measures adopted by traffic police may translate into relief for Karachiites. These include installation of cameras, ticketing system, speed guns, ban on mobile phones while driving, import of fitness inspection equipment, total computerization of driving licenses, removal of pressure horns and other minor improvements. But the major factors that are upsetting traffic police efforts are the rapid increase in the number of vehicles and population.
Some advisors attribute the present pathetic situation to the lack of a master plan for the mega city with an estimated population of 15 million. They accuse the civic agencies of dumping studies worth millions conducted 15 years ago by management consultants. The money just evaporated into thin air, leaving the infrastructure of Karachi on the verge of total collapse.
TRAFFIC in Karachi keeps expanding and taking a toll on human lives and property with no signs of law-enforcement agencies and the City Government bringing relief to Karachiites already buckling under electricity loadshedding and water shortage.
