RAWALPINDI: Not more than 8,000 vehicles will be allowed to enter Murree despite the fact that the city has a parking capacity of about 3,500 vehicles. The extra tourist vehicles will be parked on a single side along roads during Eidul Fitr.

A part of security measures, public service vehicles without route permits would not be allowed to enter Murree, said Chief Traffic Officer Naveed Irshad.

The City Traffic Police have chalked out a traffic plan for Murree during Eidul Fitr and the summer season with the deployment of over 350 personnel.

As part of the traffic plan, counting of vehicles has been started at all the entrances to Murree to ensure the number of vehicles do not exceed.

350 police personnel deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic during Eid holidays

A traffic police spokesman said unlicensed drivers will not be allowed to enter Murree and helmet restrictions will be required for motorcyclists.

Awareness and guidance pamphlets will be distributed among tourists at the Murree Toll Plaza and all the entrances. Awareness banners have also been displayed along the major roadways to guide tourists.

The spokesman said the Mall Road will be kept completely closed for normal traffic. He said five highways of Murree had been declared one-way while buses will not be allowed to go beyond Lower Topa.

Vehicles going to Azad Kashmir will use the expressway. All types of parking will be banned at GPO Chowk and surrounding areas for smooth flow of traffic.

A control room has been set up at Sunny Bank for timely assistance and guidance of tourists.

It has been noticed that thousands of vehicles enter Murree on the occasion of Eidul Fitr and long queues of vehicles are seen on the roads in the hilly stations.

At one stage, the traffic police and district administration have to restrict/ban entry of vehicles due to lack of parking space and accommodation.

On the other hand, the newly-launched Murree Tourism Police (MTP) reunited a missing child with her parents and a young man with his family on Monday. In addition, the MTP also extended help to three tourist vehicles which were broken down.

Meanwhile, the Murree tehsil administration and the Rawalpindi district administration have issued travel instructions for the convenience of tourists.

Following roads in Murree will be one-way: Bank Road, Hall Road, View Fourth Road, Kaldana Road, Laksha Road, Cecil Road and Pindi Point.

The administration has directed the tourists to abide by the travel rules and cooperate with the traffic police. In the constant flow of traffic, no parking would be allowed along the roads.

People should not stop vehicles along the main road to get selfies. Noise and tape recorders are not allowed in public places and on the roads. Tourists should take special care of cleanliness and dispose of garbage at designated places.

Heavy vehicles are not allowed during the summer season. All types of vehicles and motorcycles are prohibited on the Mall Road. Do not throw anything around the road that could cause fire. For the convenience of tourists, control rooms have been set up at Jinnah Hall while control rooms of highways and traffic police would also be working.

Published in Dawn,May 3rd, 2022