RAWALPINDI, Nov 22: The long queues of vehicles packed bumper to bumper on Murree Road speak volumes for the failure of the local police in managing traffic. However, the SP traffic defends his force passing the buck on to the tehsil municipal administration (TMA) and the district Nazim to this effect.

Presently, two deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) under the command of SP Omer Traffic Hayat Lalika have been posted in Rawalpindi to command and control the traffic police department. They are being assisted by a force of more than 625 head-constables and constables. But despite this, the Murree Road could be seen plagued with traffic jams at a number of places. The residents of Rawalpindi frequently drew the attention of the authorities concerned towards this end, but it cut no ice with them.

In their endeavour to smooth the ever increasing traffic flow, the police bosses had the ‘novel idea’ to temporarily close the roads for two-way traffic, switch off the signals at key crossings from Chandni Chowk to The Mall and handle the traffic manually. But this technique has further complicated the situation.

The SP Traffic Omer Hayat Lalika while defending their technique of switching off the traffic signals told Dawn that this was done only during rush hours. He said since most of the traffic signals were not in order, the cops had to manage the traffic manually. Mr Lalika said he had repeatedly requested the tehsil municipal administration (TMA) authorities to repair the traffic signals but he did not receive any response. He said the traffic jams were due to shortage of bus bays and added that he had requested the district Nazim to construct new bays, if he wanted smooth flow of traffic.”

Mr Asif, a college teacher, who was caught in the traffic jam along with his family said: “Either the traffic police chief or else the Nazim should be present at the Committee Chowk to clear the traffic mess and allow the pedestrians to cross the road.”

A businessman, who introduced himself as Mr Azhar, held the public transport drivers responsible for creating traffic mess. He said mostly the traffic jams were created by the unruly drivers of buses, coaches, vans and Suzukis who picked up and dropped passengers anywhere on the Murree Road.

On the other hand, Rashid Khan, a Suzuki driver, said there was a tough competition among the public transport owners and if they stopped picking up and dropping the passengers at different spots, it would hurt their business, as some other bus, van, coach or Suzuki will pick up the commuter.