NEW security lanes based on radio frequency-identification (RF-ID) have been installed in many sectors of Islamabad, but the most pathetic point chosen is right in the middle of the Islamabad Expressway after the Faizabad overhead bridge and has been causing traffic jams during peak hours.

The whole Expressway project was known as a ‘signal-free corridor’. Billions of rupees have been invested to keep traffic flow normal and smooth, but I don’t see this in the near future.

There is a U-turn on the Expressway, which already is cause for nuisance. Now we have these new RF-ID security lanes, with breakers and cat’s eyes.

During peak hours there is a 100pc possibility of traffic jams as people go to educational institutions, offices, etc, and there are only five lanes out of which one will be meant for government official cars having e-tags and the remaining four for other citizens.

There are 50k cars coming in one flow divided into four lanes, and each car takes 20 seconds to be cleared. One can imagine the traffic jam and delay in reaching the destination. The government should look into this as people are already frustrated about the traffic from Rawat to Islamabad and now this nuisance. Or every citizen should be provided an e-tag, with computerised number plates, so that unregistered and non-excise-fee payers only are stopped.

Only in red zones can this RF-ID be implemented.

Shaheryar Hassan

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2017