KARACHI, Sept 3: The city district government apprised the Supreme Court on Monday of the measures it has taken to ease traffic congestion and prevent traffic jams. A three-member bench adjourned further proceedings to Sept 17 to be held here or in Islamabad, subject to the availability of its members.

The court is considering the matter in a suo motu exercise of its jurisdiction and has by an interim order barred the entry of heavy vehicles in Karachi during the day. District coordination officer Javed Hanif informed a bench comprising Justices Rana Bhagwandas, Hamid Ali Mirza and Ghulam Rabbani that heavy traffic, that had been using the Northern Bypass before its collapse, had been diverted. In a lighter vein, the bench asked him to ensure that the new route was strong enough to take the load.

The DCO claimed in his report to the bench that encroachments had been removed from 13 roads, including M.A. Jinnah Road, Tariq Road and Preedy Street in front of Rainbow Centre while similar action was being taken in other areas to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic.

He said that the chief secretary has constituted a standing committee under his chairmanship to periodically review the traffic situation and resolve problems in compliance with a court order. A meeting of the committee was held on August 28 for a threadbare discussion of traffic-related problems, said the DCO while submitting a copy of the minutes of the meeting.

Meanwhile, the EDO Transport is preparing plans for shifting temporary bus stands. There are 470 bus stops in the city, including 46 on Sharea Faisal, 32 on Shahrah-i-Pakistan and 31 each on Nishtar, University and Landhi-Korangi Roads.—APP