A vehicular-traffic mess occurred on Sharea Faisal, Saddar and other adjoining areas on Saturday, as law enforcement agencies took strict security measures on Prime Minister's Yousuf Raza Gillani's visit to the city. People were faced hardships during travelling when they were caught in the deluge of vehicles, especially commuters travelling in public transport, including women and children were among the worst sufferers.
Sharea Faisal was sealed in the wee hours on Saturday, while law enforcement agencies also forbade parking of vehicles on either side of the thoroughfare, and all streets connecting to the artery were closed, a senior official told Business Recorder on condition of anonymity.
Motorists were also not allowed to approach the main artery from the Metropole Hotel or from Malir. Security remained intact till the prime minister's arrival. Electronic traffic signals were switched off and the traffic was regulated manually, which caused severe traffic jams near corps headquarters on Sharea Faisal, Metropole Hotel, Club Road, Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Abdullah Haroon Road and roads connecting to main artery.
The impact of the traffic jam was also felt in Saddar, Regal, and even on MA Jinnah Road. People were of the view that the Prime Minister should not visit the city if he was too worried about his security.
Talking to Business Recorder DIG Traffic Wajid Ali Durrani has said that all the roads leading to main Sharea Faisal were closed due to security reasons when the prime minister arrived at Karachi on two-day official visit, which become a cause of the traffic mess in the metropolis.
He said that it is fact that it become problem for the traffic controllers to ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic when some important personalities visit the city. "There is no permanent solution of this problem," he said.
Talking about the other reasons for traffic jam, he said that increasing number of vehicles, lack of traffic sense, illegal encroachment including pushcarts cabins and booths engaged in selling consumer items, double, haphazard and illegal parking, and unavailability of proper public transport are causing traffic congestion. "There is a need for a proper mass transit system for Karachi as a long-term solution," he said.
He said that the encroachment around roads should be removed effectively and efficiently to ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic in the city. "The main reason of traffic mess at Regal Chowk at Saddar is encroachment of push-carts and cabins, which were encroached in the past and the government could not even dare to remove these illegal encroachments," he said.
He said that the police department along with the collaboration of City District Government Karachi (CDGK), and the Traffic Police should co-ordinate with each other by using cell phone in case of traffic jams. "The use of cell phone enables the traffic police to avoid traffic mess due to continuous communication," he said. He said that digging and repair of all roads should be properly planned and systematically carried out by the concerned authorities. "Pending works must be completed without delay to lower down the burden of traffic on alternate routs," he said.
He said that illegal parking, double-parking and inappropriate parking must not be allowed under any circumstances. "Similarly, illegal and double parking must not he allowed on M A Jinnah road, in front of the Spare Parts Market and also in front of Empress Market and Saddar area," he said.
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