PESHAWAR: Traders here have expressed anger at traffic hurdles due to the ongoing work on Bus Rapid Transit project and urged the district administration to take steps for smooth flow of traffic by giving alternative routes to the passenger vehicles and removing encroachments to create parking space in the city and cantonment areas.

These demands were presented to the deputy commissioner by office-bearers of Traders Alliance at a meeting here on Tuesday. According to a statement, the traders were represented by the alliance patron-in-chief Azizullah Saraf, president Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor and general secretary Hasnain Sheraz.

The traders said that in view of ongoing work on the BRT project the administration should declare alternative routes for the passenger vehicles to reduce burden on the main arteries. They said that strict action should be taken against encroachers creating hurdles to the flow of traffic. They also asked for creating parking lots and checking quality and prices of different edible items, including milk and meat.

According to a statement, the deputy commissioner asked the traders to remove the illegal mini-shops outside their trade centres and discourage vendors to clear busy roads. He said that the administration and police officials were regularly visiting sites of BRT to check traffic movement. He added that that a vigorous drive against encroachment would be launched soon.

Meanwhile, Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran also urged the administration to take action against encroachments and illegal auto-rickshaws in the provincial metropolis.

A statement issued here said that the traders had always pointed out that the growing number of pushcarts and auto-rickshaws was the main cause of traffic blockage in the main bazaars. They suggested that the traffic police should conduct a survey and shift the auto-rickshaws to alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion. The traders said that police and the town municipal administration should take their representatives on board while initiating anti-encroachment campaign.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2018