KARACHI:Karachi is facing crippling traffic jams since one and half decades as there is no respite from such woes despite construction of many flyovers and signal free roads.
It is due to non-professional attitude of police, non-seriousness of politicians, lack of coordination among relevant organizations and relevant departments, mismanagement and lack of civic sense. The ruling party of Sindh, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and City District Government are least concerned about reducing Karachi traffic problems. No one is willing to take this issue seriously. They have put citizens’ life on mercy of God.
Sindh transport minister Nasir Hussain Shah always claimed on different occasions that his government would start Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and bring 600 green buses on the city roads soon, but such promises have proved false. The traffic problems also occur due to politicians’ ugly acts when they take out rallies and hold public gatherings, blocking roads. On the other hand, citizens also not abide by traffic laws and do not co-operate with traffic police; they also violate traffic rules and regulations. The non-professional attitude of traffic police, shortage of underpasses, bridges and roads, scarcity of buses and encroachments along road also create severe traffic jams.
PPP has always been in power but it did not pay serious attention on city’s traffic issues. Billions of rupees are being allocated every fiscal year for transport projects but the authorities could not properly utilize them. The city government is also not seriously looking the problems of Karachi’s traffic issues. Major traffic jams occur in Saddar, Landhi, Liaquatabad, Gurumandir, Lasbella, Teen Hatti, Lyari, Nazimabad No.7, Gulbai, II Chundrigar Road, Teen Talwar, Main Tariq Road, Numaish, MA Jinnah Road, Korangi No.10 and Shara-e-Faisal.
Traffic jams in various areas of the city caused citizens hardships, and due to the heavy traffic, people have been facing many diseases like asthma and cancer. The traffic jams also cause pollution in the city. Sometimes, patients lose their lives because they could not reach hospitals on time due to the heavy traffic. The students also face traffic problems in Karachi as they also cannot reach institutions on time.
The traffic problems can be resolved by constructing wide roads and building more flyovers and underpasses. Today, Karachi can get rid of these woes, if all stakeholders play their due role in the development of the city and cooperate with government to address the traffic problems.