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Traffic perils pile up on Gujrat roads

Staff Report

GUJRAT: Traffic hazards have risen in the district as the police have failed to map out effective measures to ensure smooth flow of vehicular passage.

According to a survey conducted by Daily Times, it was learnt that the East Circular Road and the Qamar Sialvi Road are being congested with traffic and encroachments. A series of traffic jams often occur at Fawara Chowk, Jail Chowk, Nawabzada Road and Bhimber Road where dozens of schools and colleges are situated. The Rehman Shaheed Road and the Committee Market are the worst hit, following illegal parking places and kiosks hindering traffic flow. Other areas include Chowk Pakistan, Zahoor Elahi Road, Khwajgan Road, the old grocery market and the Muslim Bazaar. Scores of hospitals are located at Jinnah and Bhimber roads where ambulances are often stuck in midway.

The situation is worsened by illegal motorcycle rickshaws and stop-stands scattered along side the Kabuli Gate, Chowk Nishan-e-Haider, Ramtalai Road, Hassan Chowk, Sargodha Road, Railway Road, Shahdoula Road, Circular Road and Jail Road, while the commercial buildings located on East Circular and Qamar Sialvi Roads lack proper parking facilities.

Shujjauddin Mir, president of Traders Association in Shahdoula Market, told reporters that the Tehsil Municipal Administration and the Traffic Police Department is responsible for its lack of policies to ameliorate the situation.

Sources reveal that the traffic police department is understaffed with only 71 officials posted to control the traffic population approximated to be over 2.4 million people.

“With one deputy superintendent, two inspectors, five sub-inspectors, five assistant sub-inspectors, nine head constables and 49 constables it is difficult to ease traffic,” DSP Naseem Chaudhry said.

He told reporters that the department would soon launch a comprehensive campaign to impart traffic education to the people, adding that the ineffective traffic signals are being repaired at Nishan-e-Haider Chowk, which will help reduce traffic problem.

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