RAWALPINDI: Inefficiency on the part of the traffic police and the absence of any alternative route to roads closed to traffic along General Headquarters (GHQ) caused significant traffic congestion on Tuesday evening.

Roads were closed to traffic due to Defence Day celebrations at GHQ, causing large traffic jams on link roads with no wardens in sight.

No alternative routes or traffic plan was issued by the city’s traffic department to help residents navigate the closed roads.

Traffic congestion was also seen at Marrir Chowk and its link roads, as motorists struggled to reach Chaklala Scheme-III or Kutchery Chowk.

“No traffic warden was there to guide motorists at Kutchery Chowk, and people stuck in traffic could be seen losing their temper,” said Mohammad Asif.

Another commuter, who left his home in Sadiqabad for Saddar at 6:30pm, said it took more than two hours for him to reach his destination. “I have never seen such a traffic jam, or such helpless traffic police,” he said.

The traffic jam in the city and the cantonment areas had not abated at the time this report was filed.

Published in Dawn September 7th, 2016