MURREE: Town Municipal Administration (TMA) and City Traffic Police, in collaboration with other departments concerned, chalked out traffic and tourist guide plan for the coming summer season in Murree.

At a meeting held at Jinnah Hall Murree, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Shoaib Khurram Janbaz said during the summer season, heavy luxury busses would be banned in Murree to avoid traffic jams on Rawalpindi-Murree-Kashmir Highway.

A weight station has been set up at Satra Meel toll plaza, to prevent heavy trucks from entering the hill station during the tourist season, Mr Janbaz added.

Assistant Commissioner Murree Tahir Farooq told participants of the meeting that a shuttle bus service, comprising 10 buses, would be launched between Islamabad and Murree this summer.

No vehicle will be allowed to park in the ‘No Parking’ zones within the city. Similarly, hotel agents will be allowed to operate outside their hotels and if any agent is found running after cars or tourists then a first information report (FIR) will be lodged against them.

The participants were also told that water tankers would only be allowed during late hours of the night to avoid traffic congestion.

Jika Gali is said to be the main problem area, where a large number of workshops have been illegally set up, causing traffic jams. Many of these workshops have been removed, while the remaining will be removed soon.

The CTO also said after the completion of work on the damaged road at Jika Gali, which was dug up during the construction of a parking plaza, traffic issues in the area had been resolved.

It was decided in the meeting that during summer, all traffic going towards Azad Kashmir and other heavy vehicles would use the Expressway.