RAWALPINDI: Citizens have demanded that the concerned authorities pay urgent attention to the repairs of the faulty traffic signals as the malfunctioning of the traffic lights at major intersections in the city gives rise to traffic jams, congestions and leaves motorists at high risk of traffic accidents.
Altaf, a motorist said that he had spotted a number of traffic signals in his area which were out of order.
“It is causing so much confusion and congestions at the intersections. I have been stranded several times due to traffic issues which puts me in an awkward position with my boss,” he added.
Another motorist, Abdullah, who is a resident of Marrir Hassan said that many traffic signals on the main Murree Road and the link roads have been out of order for a long time. It is very annoying because the traffic congestions often lead to getting late to one’s destination, he added.
He said that the concerned departments are paying no attention towards the problem which is aggravating the city traffic situation further.
Citizens have also urged the authorities to take solid steps to prevent traffic jams on city roads because often several ambulances are also seen stuck in the long traffic queues on roads.
Public transport commuters suffer the most as traffic wardens are also found to be absent from their duty points and others make half-hearted efforts to regulate traffic.
The citizens have called on the authorities to outline a comprehensive plan to solve traffic congestions, especially at Saidpur Road, Murree Road, Asghar Mall Road, Fifth and Sixth
Roads, Marrir Chowk, Pirwadhai Mor area at GT Road and Raja Bazaar.
The residents said that there are a number of schools, colleges, hospitals and other important workplaces in the commercial market, Fifth Road, Sixth Road and adjoining areas due to which there is huge traffic influx in the area which is not properly being regulated compelling the motorists to move at a snail’s pace.
When contacted, a Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) official told APP that the authority needs funds for the maintenance of traffic signals in the city, adding that there is no fresh survey of out of order traffic signals available to RDA so that it could demand required funds from the government.
A Traffic Police official informed that the City Traffic Police (CTP) has deployed its wardens on all the roads to regulate traffic load but maintenance of the traffic signal is the responsibility of RDA. He said that CTP has made all possible arrangements in the city to ensure smooth traffic flow.