ISLAMABAD: Urging some corrective measures to check traffic violation during night hours, the capital’s dwellers on Thursday requested the deputation of more traffic wardens on major arteries to ensure public safety.
The commuters inquired why the Islamabad Traffic Police’s (ITP) non-availability of during late hours said there was a dire need to monitor the movement of heavy vehicles including trucks, passenger buses and official motorcades who dared to ply their vehicles at high speed while ignoring the traffic laws.
A government employee Ubaid Ullah said that around 70 to 80 per cent of the capital’s major crossings remained unmanned and people were left at their own mercy.
Ubaid urged the concerned authorities to use Close-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras for monitoring and issuing fine tickets so that people are bound to obey rules.
Talking to APP, a top official of the ITP on the condition of anonymity said that the ITP, when established in 2005, was an exemplary force managing smooth traffic flow in the capital but with no increase in its strength of 685 as opposed to the ever-rising population had compromised its performance.
He said that each traffic warden was supposed to tackle 183 vehicles per day at present but the ITP’s strength remains the same.
“The traffic flow has increased by almost seven times during the past 13 years while the staff’s strength has gradually decreased to 685 from 628 owing to the retirement of a few officials,” he said.
In response to a question, he said that the ITP was currently deputing two inspectors and 28 officials on major arteries of the capital during the night. These locations include Islamabad Expressway, Faisal Avenue, 7th Avenue, 9th Avenue, Constitutional Avenue and Attaturk Avenue.
However, he also said that the recruitment of more officials was required to tackle the issue of the day and night shifts.
Usually, an official performs his duty for around 10 hours daily, however, it prolongs to 16 hours in case of an emergency situation.
“Out of the total staff of ITP, over 300 officials work in the morning shift, 200 work in the evening time while the remaining are stationed at offices,” he added.
“VIP duties also utilise most of the staffers at different points during the day,” the official said while adding that many traffic police employees also remain busy in regulating parking issues in the capital’s markets which leaves behind only a few to manage the smooth mobility of over 900,000 vehicles on the busy roads.
A traffic sergeant performing duty in Sector G-9, said, “Ensuring a smooth flow the traffic is a nerve-testing job. We have to remain on our feet all the time irrespective of the harsh weather conditions.”
Qasim Ali, another ITP official, said that according to the ITP’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) introduced in 2005, each traffic official was supposed to perform an eight-hour duty, but at present an inspector had to work for over 15 hours and a constable was meant to remain on duty for more than 8 hours. “Additionally, unscheduled arrangements for VIPs movement usually prolonged their working hours certainly undermining their professional efficiency,” he added.
“We have requested the concerned authorities to induct a new batch of at least 100 personnel to at least deal with the load VIP movements put on roads but so far no action has been taken in this regard,” he said.