GRIDLOCKS on Islamabad roads have become a routine thanks to the phenomenal increase in traffic volume. This has caused wear and tear on the main arteries while the city’s administration is in no mood to find a way to mitigate people’s suffering.

The charm of travelling on the wide and smooth roads of Islamabad has vanished. Driving on these roads has now become a painful exercise for commuters. And the hassle is not just limited to peak hours. It seems to be a round-the-clock situation.

The signal-free Islamabad Expressway (pictured above), which links major parts of the twin cities and bears the brunt of the traffic volume, has become rough and bumpy. There is no check on the heavy vehicles plying on the lanes reserved for light traffic, especially during the night.

Like other authorities, Islamabad’s traffic police department also seems to have turned a blind eye to traffic violations. From Zero Point to Koral Chowk near the old Islamabad airport, this major artery presents a picture of official neglect. A ride between these two points, which used to take less than 20 minutes, now takes an hour.

In the past, the city’s main arteries used to get re-carpeted every two to three years, but that practice seems to have been shunned. The government needs to understand that expanding roads and building new ones will not address the traffic mess unless the authorities put curbs on increasing sale of vehicles, and strictly enforce traffic rules.

Y. Rasheed
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2022