Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: A massive influx of vehicles in Murree exposed traffic plan devised by authorities concerned to keep traffic flow smooth on roads leading to the hill station and other picnic spots of twin cities.

Only on the second day of Eid, some 35,000 cars, coaches, wagons and motorcycles entered Murree, creating traffic mess while traffic police traffic police and administration seemed helpless as they were unable to control such a heavy influx.

Thousands of citizens were affected as they had to spend whole night on the roads or in their vehicles due to worst traffic mess on Murree Expressway and Murree Kashmir Highway.

Mismanagement was seen at Lake View Park and Chattar Park as these points are situated on the expressway leading to Murree. Civic administration and police personnel tried to stop the people from going to Murree but in vain. Police also warned people of “expected land sliding” but people turned a deaf ear to the advice.

Due to worst traffic jam that continued for almost 12 hours, picnickers lost their temperament and many skirmishes and roadside clashes among them were seen.

In Rawalpindi, a horrible traffic jumble at Shamsabad, just before two days before Eid, and awful jam at Saddar on the night of Eid exposed poor performance of traffic police.

When contacted, City Traffic Police (CTP) Spokesman Wajid Satti said that unexpected number of vehicles tried to enter Murree which created traffic jam starting from 17 miles away from the hill resort up to Sunny Bank Chowk.

Almost 40,000 vehicles entered Murree on second day, he said, adding that visitors violated traffic laws and created self made parking which resulted in worst traffic jam. However, he said that roads were cleared after 17 hours.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif telephoned Rawalpindi commissioner and RPO and directed them to take immediate measures to improve traffic system on the routes from Islamabad to Murree.

He ordered that all necessary steps should be taken to minimise problems of citizens going to Murree.

The chief minister also asked why advance arrangements were not made for maintaining a smooth flow of traffic on Eid holidays.