KARACHI, Oct 18: Traffic jams on North Napier Road, surrounded by major markets, have become a regular feature but the traffic managers of the city have failed so far to ensure a smooth flow of vehicular traffic on this artery, which is a victim of all sorts of encroachments.

A survey of this vast commercial centre shows that pedestrians, commuters and motorists experience exhausting traffic chaos while driving on this road between Lea Market and Denso Hall because of frequent jams. It takes hours to get through the road after getting trapped into the deluge of vehicles.

The road provides access to Lea Market, Juna Market, Khajoor Bazaar, chemical market, pan market, Denso Hall and Khori Garden whereas its link road leads to the City and Sessions Court. Besides, countless offices, small markets, shops and commercial concerns, besides residential units, are located all along Napier Road.

It is observed that all types of vehicles are parked in a haphazard manner along both the sides of this road while its pavements are seen occupied by shopkeepers and vendors who use the space for displaying their merchandise or signboards.

Authorities have never bothered to regulate traffic on this road and, as such, the problem has become a permanent source of irritation for pedestrians and motorists.

Public transport vehicles carrying local and upcountry passengers also ply on this road in a large number with Lea Market serving them as an intermediate bus terminal. The inter-city transport operators use this vital point as their departure and arrival lounge.

It is observed that no traffic management on this route is visible. The traffic police personnel on duty would move only when traffic jams run into several hours and brought movement of all sorts on this road to a standstill.

Sometimes back, the Saddar Town administration had taken a courageous step to stop entry of heavy vehicles by erecting iron barriers at vital points of the link roads. However, the same have since been removed.

Traffic chaos on this road ultimately causes a similar clogging on all other major roads in the nearby localities and commercial streets.

The ever-growing fleet of vehicles in Karachi is a completely topsy-turvy because of the failure of the city’s traffic mangers, with dilapidated roads, poor infrastructure and hostile behaviour of the transport mafia contributing greatly to the menace of traffic jams.

Besides, the helpless commuters have no option but to endure the exhausting chaos while travelling in over-crowded buses, mini-buses and coaches, thus exposing themselves to serious hazards. Many of them are often seen travelling on footboards, rooftops and even rear guards of such vehicles.