Rawalpindi is facing traffic problems due to closure of Kashmir Highway for heavy traffic coming from NWFP, Northern Areas and other parts of the country. The Islamabad Police have diverted the traffic towards Peshawar Road and IJ Principle Road, which has over-burdened these two roads.
Islamabad Police has erected a board on Kashmir Highway barring the heavy trucks and trailers from entering the highway, which has badly affected the smooth flow of traffic on Peshawar road as traffic jams on this road have become the order of the day.
Rawalpindi Traffic Police is unable to manage such a huge traffic-busses, coasters, trucks and trailers, every day on Peshawar Road and IJ Principle Road, said a traffic official, when asked about traffic jams at Golra Morr, Pirwadhai Morr at Peshawar Road while at Lahore Morr and other Chowks of IJ Principle Road.
He said that Kashmir Highway is for heavy traffic. Islamabad Police have unnecessarily caused problems for Rawalpindi people by diverting traffic towards Peshawar road, he said adding that if traffic moves on Kashmir Highway it will pass on this highway without causing any traffic problems. But, he said, it is causing hell of hour long-traffic jams daily on every busy Peshawar road and IJP road.
He said that Rawalpindi Traffic Police have time and again raised the matter with Islamabad Police but of no use. Islamabad police high ups are not ready to listen to them, he remarked.
People are ultimate sufferers of this callous attitude of Islamabad police, which have diverted the traffic to show clean roads to new government. The overcrowded and over-burdened Peshawar and IJP roads can be relaxed if Islamabad Police allow heavy traffic on Kashmir Highway and divert it near Police Lines on IJP road towards Faizabad. It will decrease the pressure on Peshawar road manifold, he said.