SKARDU, May 5 Increase in the number of non-custom paid vehicles in the city and violation of traffic rules by drivers and absence of traffic police and signals on main crossings are causing traffic snarls and hazards to the commuters in Skardu. No traffic constable is seen on any busy chowk to regulate traffic. It is also very risky to walk along the roadside.

“I narrowly escaped today from being hit by a Prado driven by a young boy that was approaching fast towards me from the wrong side of the road. I swiftly left my side to save myself,” a pedestrian told Dawn.

The number of non-custom paid luxury vehicles of different models, mostly driven by young drivers, are on the rise in the city. Some ignorant drivers are also seen driving with their headlights on high beam at night endangering the lives of people travelling with them as well as those coming from the opposite direction. There were several incidents reported of head-on collision between cars.

Due to the apathy of the traffic police towards the problem and in the wake of rising accidents, the citizens have built several speed-breakers on the road creating hurdle in smooth flow of traffic.

Mismanagement and poor planning of traffic police can also be witnessed in New Bazaar road, one of the busiest roads and the main trading centre of city. This one-kilometre busy road stretches from Hussaini chowk to Yadgar chowk. So the traffic authorities pay their full concentration on this road to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. They do not allow traders to park loaded vehicles during office time that causes hardships and problems.

The traffic authorities do not allow entry of buses and trucks in the municipality area before 4pm, which seems to be injustice with the truck drivers who reach here after travelling six or seven days from Rawalpindi or Mansehra.