RAWALPINDI: A traffic control room has been established at Sunny Bank Chowki and 270 traffic police personnel deployed to facilitate tourists during snowfall in Murree.

Entry of vehicles on The Mall will be banned while special checkpoints have been set up at entry points of Murree where mechanically-fit vehicles and licence holders will be allowed to enter.

A traffic police spokesman said following the special directives of Regional Police Officer Nasir Mehmood Satti, the duty officer traffic (headquarters) chalked out a special plan for Murree to facilitate tourists coming from far-off places.

More than 270 traffic police officers will be on duty to maintain the flow of traffic and provide all possible assistance to tourists.

As part of the public awareness campaign, pamphlets inscribed with precautions and information regarding snowfall will also be distributed among tourists coming to Murree, while awareness banners about traffic laws and precautionary measures have been displayed on highways.

Additionally, five fork lifters and one tug master (tow truck with crane) have been provided to check violation of parking and provide timely assistance to tourists.

Cranes will constantly be patrolling whereas a special control room has also been built at Sunny Bank Chowki to provide timely assistance to tourists and solve the traffic problem immediately.

Due to narrow highways and two-way traffic, five main roads of Murree have been declared as one-way to facilitate the evacuation of vehicles.

During snowfall, heavy vehicles will be allowed to enter Murree only at specified times, said the spokesman, adding that there is a parking capacity of around 4,000 vehicles in Murree.

For the convenience of tourists, apart from the allocated parking area, single side parking will be done at certain places so that there is no disruption in the flow of traffic.

Traffic rules will be strictly enforced to maintain uninterrupted flow of traffic during the season and indiscriminate and strict action will be taken in case of violation.

In the meantime, all tourists coming to Murree are requested to make their journey easy and safe by following the instructions issued by the traffic wardens posted on the signboards, banners on highways and safety measures while driving, said the spokesman.

Mr Satti has ordered police to take necessary precautions in light of predicted snowfall and rain in the mountains.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2022