RAWALPINDI: Hundreds of commuters particularly schoolchildren and college students remained stuck in a gridlock for several hours on Islamabad Expressway, while traffic moved at snail’s pace on roads the garrison city during rain on Wednesday.

The traffic situation on Jhelum Road near Soan was not different from the Islamabad Expressway and commuters preferred to take alternative routes or return to their homes instead of moving towards Saddar.

Besides others, the parents of schoolchildren were particularly in distress due to delay in arrival of their loved ones who had left their schools at 2:30pm and could not reach home till 5pm on Wednesday.

A school van driver told Dawn that he picked up children from their Soan Garden school and a college girl from her college at 2:30pm but remained stuck in a traffic jam till 5pm from Rawat to PWD

SP traffic blames bridge construction, rain for traffic congestion

A mother of a prep school student said she would not come out of distress until she sees her son who left home for school at 7:30am and has not returned as yet till 5pm.

When asked about the cause of traffic congestion, SP Traffic Dr Mustafa Tanweer blamed the construction of a bridge near the Defense Housing Authority (DHA) and rain for traffic congestion. Everyone hates traffic congestion, and it is getting worse day by day in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad due to alleged negligence of authorities concerned.

The Rawalpindi city roads do not have the capacity to handle peak-hour loads without forcing people to wait inside their vehicles due to increasing encroachments on footpaths and roads.

Spokesman for the Rawalpindi traffic police blamed slow-moving vehicles due to rain at Committee Chowk and Raja Bazaar for the congestion. The main problem was Faizabad picket towards Islamabad, he said.

On the other hand, Rescue 1122 was on high alert in Murree during snowfall.

The Motorway Police have also issued an advisory for tourists asking them to avoid unnecessary travel during snowfall. While travelling keep the vehicle mechanically fit, and keep toe chains and other necessary tools with them.

Before starting their journey to Murree, contact police helpline 130 to get help during snowfall.

Regional Police Officer Rawalpindi Region Nasir Mehmood Satti said in a statement that Murree Tourism, District and Traffic Police have been alerted as the snowfall has started in Murree.

He said that tourists should be informed about precautionary measures by providing all possible help and guidance and traffic flow should be ensured.

The police deployed at the entrance of Murree have been directed to allow only fully equipped vehicles to enter, said RPO Nasir Mehmood Satti.

The District Police Officer Murree should personally supervise all the arrangements regarding traffic flow, said the RPO.

In case of any problem, tourists can get assistance by contacting 24/7 Murree control room number or 15. Tourists coming to Murree are requested to follow the instructions of the local police, said RPO Satti.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2023