KARACHI, Oct 27: Sindh Transport Minister Adil Siddiqui has asked the city government to withdraw the permissions given for installing makeshift bachat bazaars at 197 places in the city during Ramazan that may cause traffic jams.

Well-placed sources said that the transport minister presided over a meeting, attended by police officials, on Monday. He was informed that some UC Nazims and Town Nazims had given permission for holding tents along different roads, which would cause traffic jams in Ramazan.

Mr Siddiqui was told that the police officials concerned were not consulted before giving such permissions for bachat bazaars. The minister asked the elected representatives of the city government to withdraw such permissions, which might cause traffic congestions on different roads. Instead, he was of the view that the permission for bachat bazaars on open land should be given.

Later, the Capital City Police Officer Asad Ashraf Malick also presided over a meeting and directed the officials concerned to take all possible measures to ensure smooth flow of traffic during the holy month.

However, the DIG Traffic Yameen Khan said apart from permissions given for bachat bazaars along the roads, many encroachments had also appeared along different roads. Pushcarts and stalls had occupied portion of roads, causing disruption in traffic flow.

He claimed that many pushcart holders had got permission from their union council to carry out their business encroaching upon roads. Only in some cases, the encroachers did not get permission, but, occupied roads.

“We have asked the city government to direct UC Nazims for removal of encroachments in their respective areas. Police would extend all possible help in this respect, which is necessary for smooth traffic flow,” Mr Khan said.

Besides, he said that the poor condition of roads and the construction work on different roads also contributed to disruption in traffic flow. For instance, he said, one side of the Mauripur road was in poor condition where traffic jam was a routine feature. Similarly, construction of flyover on Korangi road, repair of Qayumabad roundabout, Gulbai roundabout and SITE were also causing traffic congestion.

He said that the CCPO had promised to strengthen the traffic police with newly passed out 500 officials in a couple of days. At present, he said, the available strength of the traffic police was 2,500 constables, 372 head constables, 598 ASIs, 349 SIs, and 102 inspectors. With the addition of 500 constables, the strength of constables would come to 3,000 and it would help traffic police to regulate and manage the traffic flow, he added.

He said that a meeting with the District Coordination Officer was also held, in which he had assured the traffic police of completion of repair work on roads as soon as possible.

About traffic jams in Saddar, M.A. Jinnah road and other arteries, he said, since the eve of Ramazan, Taraveeh prayers began and at some places like in front of Khaliq Dina Hall and Boulten Market, the prayers were held on roads. The traffic police had no choice, but to divert traffic to alternative routes, which had caused traffic congestions in all connecting roads and streets.