MANSEHRA: The Oghi tehsil administration has decided to register pushcarts and rickshaws to help address traffic congestion in the city and its suburbs.

“We are going to regularise the three-wheelers and pushcarts to ensure smooth flow of traffic on roads,” Oghi assistant commissioner Fahad Zia told a meeting attended by representatives of central traders’ body, and rickshaw and pushcart owners’ associations here on Sunday.

He told the participants that the administration wanted to address civic and traffic issues faced by traders, residents and transporters. “We are going to allot an appropriate piece of land where pushcarts and small vendors could do their business,” Mr Zia said. He said currently passersby, shoppers and motorists couldn’t freely move in local bazaars owing to congestion and rush.

“The business community should also extend support to the TMA and traffic wardens in maintaining the smooth flow of traffic by avoiding putting their goods outside their shops and business centres on roads and footpaths,” Mr Zia said.

He said three-wheelers would also be registered and a separate space would be allotted to them. “The drivers of three-wheelers having valid driving licences would be registered,” Mr Zia said.

He said the administration was working on a comprehensive strategy to make Oghi a model town, and it could only be possible with the cooperation of traders, residents and office-bearers of traders’ associations.

Meanwhile, Oghi traders have demanded of the government to re-carpet all the roads as they have been extensively damaged due to the transportation of granite and other minerals from Shergar and Tanawal areas of the district to Punjab.

“The Darband-Oghi-Mansehra Road and other arteries have borne the brunt of destruction caused by movement of heavy-loaded vehicles,” Waqar Ahmad, a traders’ leader, told reporters on Sunday.

Flanked by a group of shopkeepers, he said local government representatives had met with deputy director of the minerals department and demanded enforcement of strict rules to ensure that truckers transporting granite didn’t exceed the prescribed weight limit, but to no avail.

“Because of transportation of heavy granite rocks and other minerals the roads are in a shambles, but the government has not spent a single penny from royalty generated through mining on their rehabilitation,” Mr Ahmad said.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2024