RAWALPINDI: With the start of the third test match between Pakistan and England at the Rawalpindi CricketStadium and the closure of mainroads, traffic situation in the garrison city has taken the turn for the worse.

The district administration and Rawalpindipolice had devised atrafficplan for the five-day matchthat started on Oct 24 and announced alternative routes and car parking. Even traffic wardens had been deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic, but they failed to handle the influx of vehicles on Murree Road.

The worst situation arises in the evening, especially during the movement of teams. Long queues of vehicles were witnessed at Faizabad, Islamabad Expressway, Rawal Road and from Chandni Chowk to Shamsabad.

No cab driver or ride sharing motorcyclist was ready to travel on Murree Road, with most people seen walking on foot in the absence of public transport.

Besides, shops on Murree Road had also been closed much to the resentment of traders.

Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha toldDawnthat the frequent closure of roads and traffic mess had decreased business activities in the garrison city.

“Friday is a closed day for traders, but shops would also not open on Saturday from Faizabad to SixthRoad for security reasons,” he added.

He said the cricket stadium should be shifted outside the city so that those people who want to visit the stadium could go easily, adding that the worst traffic jam was witnessed on Murree Road in the morning and evening.

“For the last three months, traders have suffered a lot due to frequent sit-ins held by Jamaat-i-Islami, PTI, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan and also because of the holidays declared on the occasion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit,” he said.

Mr Paracha said due to one crisis or the other in the last three months coupled with high electricity charges and taxes, traders are in the grip of financial crunch.

Mohammad Riaz, a commuter, said traffic mess had become the order of the day in the city, adding that it was difficult for people to use Murree Road to travel to Islamabad for work.

He said metro bus was also suspended in the city areas in the morning and evening, forcing people like me to take the long route to reach Blue Area.

Suhail Sarfraz, a resident of Double Road, said it was difficult for the residents along Stadium Road to venture outside due to road closure, causing a lot of inconvenience to them.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2024