Citizens on Sunday urged the concerned authorities to take solid steps to avoid traffic jams on main roads of the city. The citizens had called on the authorities to outline a comprehensive plan to solve the traffic congestion in the city as heavy traffic jam on city roads especially from Center Hospital to Marrir Chowk, after the launch of Marrer Chowk tunnel project on Benazir Bhutto Road (Murree road), was creating a lot of problems for the citizens of Rawalpindi. Motorists said they had to face inconvenience when they reached late at their destinations as traffic was not being regulated properly by the traffic wardens from Center Hospital to Marrer Chowk and at other main roads of the town. Talking about traffic jams in the city, people belonging to different walks of life said the Benazir Bhutto Road, Raja Bazaar Road, Bank Road, Bunni Chowk, Said Pur Road, Peerwadhai Road, Tench Bhatta, 22 Number Chungi were very busy roads, but due to traffic jams which had become a routine matter on these roads, the citizens were suffering gravely. “Due to traffic jam on the Moti Bazaar Road, our business is suffering great losses. The customers, especially females, do not come to the market,” a shopkeeper Farman Ali said. He added that the encroachments by the owners of motorcycle showrooms on the Circular Road, and their illegal commercial activities on the road had led to traffic jams. Lack of traffic signals on the Raja Bazaar Road and other important cross-sections of the city were also creating traffic problems. “The traffic wardens are not performing their duties properly in the city,” said a motorist. The citizens urged the concerned authorities that strict checking of traffic rules violations, particularly on Benazir Bhutto Road (Murree Road) should be ordered. The commuters faced big traffic problems on the congested Murree Road especially from Mareer Chowk to Naz Cinema Chowk due to heavy traffic load, traffic mismanagement and rules violations. “Driving on the Murree Road was a test of the nerves of commuters,” Atif, a commuter, said. He added, “We have to face a huge traffic mess daily, particularly at the peak hours”. The Committee Chowk underpass, Chandni Chowk and sixth road flyovers on Murree Road could not help control the traffic mess mainly due to the wrong parking of vehicles and other violations of traffic rules. “Five to 10 minutes wait at all main traffic signals was a routine matter on Murree road,” said another motorist. He added that the traffic problems on Murree Road could only be addressed through the strict observance of traffic rules.
