ISLAMABAD: The city managers on Tuesday decided to procure five mobile traffic signals for use in emergencies.

The Engineering Wing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) held a meeting after receiving a letter from the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) on Tuesday which pointed to serious road furniture deficiency and faulty signals.

Chaired by Member Engineering Sajjad Zaidi, the meeting decided to procure five mobile signals at the earliest.

“I have directed the concerned officers to initiate the tendering process,” Mr Zaidi told Dawn.

According to sources, the meeting discussed a letter from SSP Traffic Farrukh Rashid dated May 15 in detail and decided that other required measures will also be taken to ensure the smooth flow of traffic in the city.

The letter, available with Dawn, says that general road users and the ITP has been inconvenienced at assorted locations due to out of order traffic signals, deficiencies in road furniture, fixtures, road engineering works and required paraphernalia.

The letter says many traffic signals need to be repaired including ones at Secretariat Chowk, Parliament Lodges G-5, Kulsoom Chowk, Nazimud Din Road, China Chowk, Sarya Chowk, Gillani Chowk near the old Sunday Bazaar in G-8, Pims gates and the G-8 Suparco Crossing.

The letter said lane markings and cat eyes are missing at various prime locations resulting in accidents of varying severity.

It says cat eyes and zebra crossings are missing at the F-8 Exchange Chowk, PARC Chowk, Shaheen Chowk, T&T Chowk, Fazaia Chowk, Faisal Avenue, Aabpara, ISI barrier, Safa Gold Mall, Jinnah Super Market, Super Market, F-9 and F-10.

A CDA official said the meeting decided to take action on these points on a priority basis.

An audit conducted by ITP in 2016 had identified many problems with traffic infrastructure in the capital city including faulty traffic signals, misleading signboard and dangerous U-turns due to a lack of fish bellies.

It also pointed out issues of parking in the city. ITP had shared its report with CDA and demanded provisions for the missing facilities.

According to sources, after having constructed a fish belly on Kashmir Highway and constructing two loops on the same highway, the CDA has failed in resolving all issues and deficiencies pointed out by ITP.

There are still many traffic signals which are faulty and parking issues are increasing.

“We made some improvements such as marking lanes on several roads and repairing several signals. But we have failed on many fronts,” a CDA official said.

He added that the civic agency seems to be serious about resolving the matter after receiving the letter from ITP.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2018