PESHAWAR, Feb 21: Encro-achments on the Hazarkhwani-Phando Chowk on the Ring Road not only hamper traffic flow, but also cause a threat to the life of those driving on this busy road.

And the out-of-order traffic signals on the one hand add to the risk of accidents on this road while on the other speak volumes of the apathy of the authorities concerned.

A resident of Hazarkhwani, Ashfaq Khan, told Dawn: "I had informed the traffic police a few years ago about the matter and a policeman was posted there to help facilitate smooth flow of traffic, but after a few days there was no one."

"Traffic signals are broken and there is no transformer for the supply of electricity," he said.

The illegal structures around the busy intersection of Ring Road and Phando Road and in the middle of the thoroughfare also pose potential danger to the road users.

A private taxi stand set up at this chowk in front of Gulbahar police checkpoint operate with impunity. The owners are least bothered to remove the stand and charge Rs10 each from taxi drivers to park their vehicles.

The chowk has also been named by the taxi stand operators as Jameel Chowk.

A tractor stand has also been established near the taxi stand in violation of the law, which also hamper the traffic flow.

When the traffic police were contacted to comment on the situation, no responsible officials was available.

Town-IV Nazim Niaz Ahmed, when contacted, said he would look into the matter and help remove encroachments from the portion of Ring Road that falls in the jurisdiction of Town-IV.

He said Phando Chowk fell in the jurisdiction of Town-I and declined to give details about the measures to be taken to resolve the issue.