SIALKOT, Nov 16: Traffic police have failed to control traffic mess on city streets and busy junctions, resulting in chaos on roads and frequent accidents.

Though a routine, it is still amazing to see that roads remain blocked in the presence of police, as wagon drivers stop in the middle of busy roads to pick and drop passengers.

Most traffic policemen, instead of channeling the traffic, stand around chatting, smoking or pointedly ignoring the traffic jam. When the situation gets really bad and one needs them the most, these cops melt into the crowd and disappear.

City's worst traffic snarls occur at Pul Aik area, Jail Road, Abbot Road, Paris Poad, Lorry Adda and Kashmir Road during rush hours but there is no policeman to handle the situation.

There are many dual carriageways, but instead of maintaining the one way discipline, the police vehicles are the first to violate the rules.

Most of the traffic signals remain out of order, while the timings of those still working are badly out of joint, causing innumerable problems to all the road users. Tempers run high and traffic violations are at the peak on these traffic signals, but there is no policeman to check errant drivers.

It has also been witnessed that a growing number of underage children and some physically handicapped persons are plying motorcycle rickshaws.

Transporters ply old and unfit wagons and buses on different routes and even though their vehicles rattle with broken doors and windows and they spout oily fumes and dark thick clouds of smoke, nobody dares to check them. After all, it is difficult to talk tough to someone who greases your palm.

It is not that the traffic police are totally inactive, they are often seen using their powers by blocking roads, stopping and harassing motorcyclists along roadsides, even as the traffic mayhem continues all around them.

Motorcyclists are easy prey for a few quick bucks, unlike those ignoring signals in fancy cars, as they are likely to be related to some bigwig and cannot be intimidated into paying a fine.—APP