ISLAMABAD: Intersection on I.J. Principal Road between Khayaban-i-Sir Syed and Sector I-10 has started to look like a garbage dump as cement barriers that were used to block the intersection have been replaced by solid waste.

In what seems like a quick fix, the authorities have removed the cement blocks from the road and have dumped solid waste to block the intersection.

As solid waste is spread on almost eight feet, the garbage has become a problem for commuters on the road, Dawn has learnt. It is pertinent to mention that the intersection of IJP Road was managed by a traffic signal in the last decade.

However, in 2009, the signal was removed because of a sharp increase in the number of vehicles on the road that led to long queues.

To solve the issue, the intersection was blocked using cement blocks, forcing the travellers from I-10 to Khayaban-i-Sir Syed and vice versa to use the nearby U-turns as an alternative.

A resident of I-10, Shahid Nazir, told Dawn that the cement barriers were removed almost a month ago.

“Initially, a barbed wire was placed to close the intersection, but then trolleys of solid waste were dumped here to close the intersection because the motorcyclists had started crossing from some patches where the barbed wire was not effective,” he said.

“The cement blocks had a width of less than 12 inches, but now the solid waste is spread on almost an eight feet area. Moreover, used shopping bags and other waste material are clearly visible in the debris of the construction material. During rainy days, the road becomes slippery because of the solid waste causing the motorcyclists to lose balance and slip,” he said.

The issue was raised on Friday, during a briefing regarding the metro bus project. Representatives of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), metro bus project, district administration, Iesco, Sui gas, police and other departments were present during the meeting. However, no one was ready to take the responsibility of dumping the solid waste on this intersection.

Superintendent of Traffic Police Asmatullah Junejo informed the participants of the briefing that solid waste has been dumped at different areas of the Islamabad since the construction for the metro bus project has begun.

He suggested that a police should be devised in the regard taking all the concerned officials into confidence.

An official of Sabzi Mandi police station, Fateh Muhammad, told Dawn that the Islamabad Traffic Police has removed the cement blocks from the intersection.

“The cement barriers might have been shifted to some other places of higher importance, due to which solid waste has been dumped at the intersection to block the road,” he said.

Another resident of I-10, Rafique Ahmed, said that he has learnt that each cement block is worth around Rs10,000, thus the police have dumped solid waste in areas of “less importance”, while blocks will be used in the Red Zone and posh sectors.

“If solid waste has to be used to close the intersections, then it should also be used in the Diplomatic Enclave, prime minister’s office and other sectors,” he said.

CDA Spokesperson Asim Khichi said that is it is the prime responsibility of the traffic police to close and open intersections of different roads. “Cement blocks should only be removed when the intersection needs to opened. I will inform the CDA high-ups to contacts the traffic police and resolve the issue,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2014