The mushrooming growth of illegal bus stands and terminals at different locations including residential areas have become a bane for the citizens, but the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), the traffic police and the local administration have turned a deaf ear to the issue.
Due to the illegal bus stands, not only the local residents were facing immense problem but also traffic jams on roads have become a common occurrence.
At locations, where illegal bus stands have popped up, commuters and motorists have to face traffic gridlocks. The worst traffic jam could be witnessed near Pirwadhai and Rawat area, where inter-city and intra-city bus stands and van terminals have all become a commonplace.
Small and large illegal bus stand stands have also popped up in Asghar Mall Chowk, Banni Chowk, Pandora Chungi, Kohati Bazaar Chowk, Khayaban-e-Siryed, Dhoke Hasoo, Fawara Chowk, Holy Family Hospital, Commercial Market, Haji Chowk Sadiqabad and other areas
A source said that the officials of the RTA and traffic police were hand in glove with the transporters in allowing them to operate illegal bus stands. He said that the transporters often grease the palm of the officials and in turn, they operate their illegal business with impunity.
During peak hours, students, officer-goers, other commuters and motorists have to face a slow traffic flow, which goes at a snail’s pace where the illegal bus stands are operating. A traffic police official said that unless the local administration and the RTA shift these illegal bus stands, traffic jams will continue to haunt commuters and motorists. He said that the traffic police could not remove illegal bus stands and the local administration could do so.
