RAWALPINDI: After two days of chaotic traffic on main arteries in the city, the traffic police on Wednesday deployed extra traffic wardens to maintain the flow of traffic on Jhelum Road from Soan Bridge in front of Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench to Sihala Mor.
Closure of a bridge connecting two private housing societies and poor construction work on Soan Bridge near Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench Chowk left thousands of commuters and motorists stranded on Jhelum Road, Soan Bridge, Aamar Chowk, Rawal Road, Murree Road, Banni Chowk and Chandni Chowk.
“I had an appointment with my cardiologist and then with my dentist on Monday at 5 pm and left my Chaklala Scheme III house well before the time, but due to traffic jams at Ammar Chowk, Bostan Road and Rawal Road, I could not reach Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology even after 7 pm. Finally the doctor’s personal assistant contacted me and cancelled the appointment,” Mr Mohammad Anwar, a cardiac patient said.
He further said he made another similar attempt and tried to visit the RIC on Tuesday, but again this time he had to face the traffic congestion and remained stuck for more than one hour. After visiting the doctor who strictly advised him to avoid stress, he had to pass through a similar nightmare while going back to his residence, he added.
However, the city traffic police on Wednesday detailed two inspectors, two beat in-charges and 16 traffic wardens in two shifts in the morning and evening to maintain the flow of traffic on the road and from G.T. Road to Morgah.
A spokesman for the City Traffic Police told Dawn that in addition to deployment of traffic wardens, a forklift was also on patrol to take action against vehicles obstructing the flow of traffic. He said the Rawalpindi traffic police had deployed additional personnel to maintain smooth flow of traffic on Jhelum Road.
In view of this, additional personnel have been deployed by removing barriers and obstructions to keep the traffic flowing smoothly on the affected part of High Court Chowk, Soan Bridge and G.T. Road.
Meanwhile, Syed Abid Abbas Shah took over the charge of Senior Traffic Officer in Traffic Office Rawalpindi and pledged to make Rawalpindi free of accidents and provide safety to every citizen by improving the flow of traffic.
Syed Abid Abbas Shah, who had been posted as Superintendent of Police, battalion commander Punjab constabulary Rawalpindi had been transferred to Punjab Constabulary Lahore by the Inspector General of Police Punjab on Oct 5, managed to get his transfer cancelled on Oct 12 and got posting as Senior Traffic Officer, Rawalpindi.
Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2020