Traffic jams become a routine matter in city

The issue of frequent traffic jams has not yet been resolved amidst an increase in population, vehicles and encroachments, which has created a lot of problems for the citizens due to mismanagement and negligence of relevant authorities. Unavailability of parking areas in the city has added to the miseries of the residents and the motorists, and worst affected are the students, government and non-government servants who have to reach to their destinations on time to study and to earn livelihood respectively. The population of this city is approximately one million and about 34000 Chingchi motorcycle rickshaws, 13,000 rickshaws and 554,000 motorcycles are plying in the entire district. According to traffic police 12 reported road accidents have so far occurred during 2020 in which 14 people have lost their precious lives and 17 have been injured. The population of Chingchi across Larkana Division is over 79,000, rickshaws 16,510 and motorcycles 903,000. As many as 61 people have been killed in 56 road accidents by these vehicles along with 45 injured during 2020, credible police sources further revealed. The exact number of donkey-carts has reduced to over 500 which was in thousands previously after arrival of Chingchi loaders. Unlawful encroachments were removed from various roads including Empire Road, Municipal Corporation Road, Bank Square Road, Old Bus Stop Road, Nishtar Road, Gajanpur Road, Old and New Sabzi Mandi Roads, Murad Wahan Road, Jail Road, Ladies Jail Road and other areas but issue of smooth flow of traffic is yet to be resolved. Encroachment on Tanga Stand was removed which has once again been occupied but administration is mum. Encroachments were also removed from Jelus Bazaar, Jinnah Bagh Chowk, Pakistani Chowk, Royal Chowk, Bank Square, Resham Gali Chowk (roundabout) but the habitual land grabbers have once again appeared and occupied same government lands which indeed has narrowed the road due to which smooth flow of traffic is very severely affected. Bus stops have been established along Rice Canal and private ambulance service drivers have also created nuisance for the motorists. Even parks near Lahori Regulator of Rice Canal have not been spared by these land grabbers who are doing roaring business but the denizens are the worst sufferers. Chingchi drivers have also entirely failed to comply with the instructions of the apex court for which they were allowed to ply as no Chingchi has still been registered with the Excise & Taxation Department due fitness certificate issue causing billions of rupees annual loss to the government treasury. Most of the Chingchi drivers are children who are unaware of traffic laws but they keep on running their vehicles on congested roads which cause frequent accidents and filling pockets of traffic cops. Traffic police have been posted but they fail to control the illiterate drivers who mostly drive in zigzag manner and apply brakes where ever they want without taking care of others. Pushcart vendors have also extremely complicated the situation who are found in every nook & corner of the city and the entire district. Even footpaths have been occupied. Worst affected are the women folk who cannot walk freely and comfortably. Another factor which has ruined the environment and traffic system is the plying of over 350 tractor trolleys whole day on commercial basis without any check so far. They start their business early morning by digging sand from Rice Canal and sale it in the city but the Irrigation Department has taken no notice of this unauthorized lifting of sand from its canal. They have not only destroyed roads but roads are also filled with sand which falls from these overloaded trolleys. Fallen sand keeps on flying in the air, polluting the entire atmosphere. This menace has also created health issues with increased number of patients suffering from eye, ear, nose, throat, asthma, chest ailments and so forth and their drivers are involved in rash driving. Traffic Sergeant, Abdul Waheed Abro, told newsmen on Tuesday that they had suggested that parking zones be established across the city and pushcart vendors must be also allowed on specific points. He said even vacated Tanga Stand has been again encroached by the land grabbers which should be utilized for parking purposes. Abro further said that traffic cops are very limited but even then they are discharging their duties without required facilities which too is another factor of their failure to ensure smooth flow of traffic. Tariq Nazir Shaikh, President, Federation of Trade Association, consisting of 28 trade bodies, said that they had submitted their suggestions to the police to improve traffic system in the city but these are yet to be implemented. He claimed that if any shopkeeper is not keeping his material in front of his shop then pushcart vendors occupy that place and nobody can remove him. He said it must be ensured by the police that no one will stand in front of any shop then no shopkeeper will keep his items outside his shop limits.