TIMERGARA, Jan 26: A large number of vehicles brought here without payment of customs duty has been cited as the main cause of frequent, hours-long traffic jams in Timergara.

A survey conducted by this correspondent shows that streets in the main bazaar remain blocked almost everyday, leaving little room for pedestrians and traders.

A diversion was planned in Timergara with hopes that it would help ease traffic pressure on some arteries. Work on the project started a year ago, but the pace is depressingly slow.

Officiating district Nazim Sultanul Mulk said that presence of a huge number of non-custom paid vehicles had been the main hurdle in the way of overcoming traffic problems. He said the district government had directed the contractor to expedite the work on the by-pass road, adding that its completion would resolve the problem to a great extent.

He said that clearing of encroachments from the main road and bazaars would also help reduce traffic jams and pointed out that soon a crackdown would be launched against encroachers.

Police officials complained that there were no traffic signals in Timergara and constables had to control the traffic manually. They said thousands of non-custom paid vehicles were plying on roads. They said it was the responsibility of the government to make rules for such vehicles, but no action had been taken yet in this regard.

When this question was raised with NWFP Excise and Taxation Fazal Rabbani, he said it was the responsibility of the federal government to levy customs duty on such vehicles and added that only after that these would be registered.

He said the NWFP had written to the federal government on the matter and a response was awaited.