RAWALPINDI: With the beginning of Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, traffic situation has become worse following the closure of main roads.

The district administration and traffic police have devised a traffic plan and announced alternative routes and parking.

Traffic police made arrangements for motorcycles at Rawalpindi Institute of Urology. However, due to the closure of Murree Road during movement of teams, traffic went into disarray in the city.

Although an additional force was deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic, it failed to handle the mess in downtown Rawalpindi.

A long queue was witnessed on Rawal Road and from Liaquat Bagh to Waris Khan bus stop in the evening.

Taxi drivers refused to go to Murree Road due to the traffic jam and residents were seen on the main road walking due to absence of public transport vehicles.

Traffic chaos remained the order of the day in the city, a commuter, Mohammad Akram, said.

He added that traffic movement was slow on Murree Road from Liaquat Bagh to Naz Cinema and under the flyover of Chandni Chowk.

We are not against matches but the traffic plan was not helpful for residents of the city, he said, adding that eventually people have to bear the brunt of ill-planning.

Suhail Ahmed, an employee of a private firm, said the taxi driver charged him Rs300 extra for Blue Area.

Whether it is government-arranged functions, matches, festivals or protest demonstrations, a system should be devised that facilitates people during such events, he added.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2020