HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry president on Thursday expressed serious concern over recurring traffic jams in business areas and demanded modern traffic management system for the city on the pattern of systems functioning in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.

The chamber’s chief Mohammad Saleem Memon said in a statement issued here that the chaotic traffic jams had paralyzed business activities, causing immense difficulties for both residents and shopkeepers of the areas.

Even patients had often to remain stranded in traffic jams and miss critical treatment opportunities. It tragically resulted in fatalities in some cases, he said.

He attributed root cause of traffic issues to unchecked growth of encroachments like street vendors occupying sidewalks, items placed on roads and other obstructions.

He said that unfortunately no serious or sustainable actions were taken to remove encroachments, leading to narrow streets and disruptions in traffic flow.

He said that modern traffic management systems such as electronic monitoring, close circuit television cameras and automated signaling had improved traffic conditions in major cities while in contrast Hyderabad’s traffic system remained outdated and ineffective.

He said that IGP had deputed 174 constables out of 500 to assist Hyderabad’s police but disappointingly, over 60 of them were later reassigned to Karachi or deployed to protocol duties.

The move had undermined intended support for traffic management in Hyderabad and this continuing lack of traffic personnel was worsening traffic crisis, leaving traders and general public with no relief from daily chaos, he said.

He criticised lack of interest and inadequate arrangements by traffic police, local administration and municipal bodies.

These shortcomings caused traffic jams during business hours which led to not only significant financial losses for traders and shopkeepers but also adversely impacted the city’s peace and security, he said.

He maintained that shopkeepers were facing daily losses in hundreds of thousands as customer access to markets had become increasingly difficult, a situation that was threatening the very survival of businesses.

He called upon IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon to take sustainable steps to address traffic challenges by permanently stationing sufficient personnel.

He appealed to Sindh government and municipal authorities to implement prompt and effective measures for removal of illegal encroachments, creating a safer and more accessible environment for residents.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2024