GILGIT-Skardu road is gradually becoming a death trap for the commuters of Gilgit Baltistan. The continuous accidents during the year are alarming. These accidents are mainly owing to extremely long distance comprising 35 hours from Rawalpindi to Skardu with one driver and an assistant driver in buses and coasters.

Fatigue and dozing drivers also cause accidents, while deplorable conditions of buses and coasters which are in any circumstances not fit to run on this long and dangerous road also cause accidents. There should be a safety wall on the sides of the road.

Keeping in view the long distance from Rawalpindi to Skardu, the travel should be divided into three parts and during the journey there should always be an alert driver ready to replace the tired one.

The first segment of travel may be from Pindi to Besham, the second from Besham to Chilas and the third from Chilas to Skardu.

The department concerned should properly check the fitness of buses, coaster and cars on rent. Only those companies should be allowed operate which fulfill the criteria of the department.

There should be a safety wall or iron erected on the sides of road throughout Jaglot to Skardu. Gilgit-Skardu road is under construction but the width of the road has been decreased from 38 feet to 19 feet and the proposed tunnels have been abandoned. This will prove risky.

Therefore the actual width of the road — 38 feet — and the proposed eight tunnels should be maintained so that safety is ensured.

Zamin Ali
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2020