Massive traffic jams in the old Rawalpindi city areas has become a routine where the motorists are made hostage for hours. People who pass through these areas on daily basis blamed the municipal authorities for their inaction against encroachments and parking at the narrow lanes.
The areas where traffic jams are routine include Liaquat road, College road, Iqbal road, Jamia Masjid Road, Dongi Khoi, Railway road, city sadder road, Kashmiri Bazar, Bagh Sardaraan, Fawara Chowk and their adjoining areas.
Pedestrians who come for their daily shopping or for dealing with other affairs have also complained that it has become difficult to pass through these areas. They blamed the Tehsil Municipal authorities for their failure to remove encroachments saying people feel free to set up their fruit and vegetable stalls, second hand clothing sale points and other such businesses. Finding no space, the motorists park their vehicles also make the narrow roads sore points for commuters.
The highly irked people say that the encroachments have been made by obliging the municipal staff. First of all, no action is taken against them and if there is any, the enforcement staff takes away the belongings of poor people and after the fine is paid, they returned their items but are free to again set up their stalls.
On the other hand, officials in the TMA say that whenever they intend to carry out the operation against encroachments, local leaders of the ruling party intervene and block their action. The officials say they become helpless and avoid taking action fearing that they would be transferred or punished on different charges.
To cope with the traffic jams, City Traffic Police has put up a proposal to the authorities to make the city public traffic free zone.