Rawalpindi Traffic Woes: Population Boom Leads to Gridlock Crisis
Wasif Chaudhary
Rawalpindi: The mounting population pressure in Rawalpindi, one of the busiest cities in the country, has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of vehicles, causing frequent traffic jams in the old city and busy commercial areas.
The mass movement of people from other cities to Rawalpindi and its rapid expansion have overwhelmed the existing road infrastructure, with main arteries now accommodating millions of vehicles daily.
Consequently, this has resulted in frequent traffic snarls, frustrating commuters who endure long waits and incur extra fuel expenses. Experts identify multiple factors contributing to this dilemma.
This trend is not unique to Rawalpindi; many world cities experience similar situations during their growth and development processes. However, cities with sensible population management and efficient traffic management systems are able to mitigate the severity of these issues and ease the burden on their residents.
“Undoubtedly, there has been a significant increase in the number of vehicles, leading to traffic congestion on major thoroughfares. However, we are actively involved in easing the commute,” remarked Taimoor Khan, the City Traffic Officer (CTO).
“With a workforce of over 1,100 traffic wardens, we strive to regulate traffic flow and enforce penalties on offenders and those encroaching on public space.”
He identified encroachments as the primary cause of congestion in areas such as Raja Bazaar, Kohati Bazaar, Naz Cinema, College Road, Bara Market, Bohar Bazaar, Fowara Chowk, Bani Chowk, Circular Road, Jamia Masjid Road, Ganjmandi, and others.
“Previously bustling spots like Marrir Chowk and Liaquat Bagh have been alleviated by making them signal-free,” he mentioned. “Although Murree Road is now signal-free from Faizabad to Saddar, challenges persist at Qasr-e-Shireen, Committee Chowk underpass, Chandni Chowk, and Waris Khan.”
Khan emphasized that unnecessary travel during peak hours and violations of traffic laws exacerbate congestion. “We take appropriate measures, having issued 11,419 fines last month and filed 42 FIRs against offenders and encroachers across various police stations,” he noted.
“However, it’s crucial to recognize that addressing this issue is a collective responsibility involving the district administration, commuters, vendors, and traders.”
Amidst the claims of strict action against violators, the problem still exists due to multiple reasons like insufficient roads infrastructure, rising population, unchecked encroachment, increasing vehicles number and rampant violations.
Residents believe that providing alternate routes, implementing designated road lines mechanism and completing projects like Ring Road would surely address the traffic jam issue at main arteries and branch roads.
“We anticipate that the Rawalpindi Ring Road project will alleviate the traffic congestion on Peshawar Road and Sri Nagar Highway,” commented commuter Muhammad Altaf. “However, with the population and traffic continually increasing, it’s imperative to modernize the Rawalpindi master plan to accommodate these factors.”
Another commuter, Muhammad Ashraf, a school teacher, highlighted the insufficient public transportation system in Rawalpindi as a contributing factor to traffic jams. “The limited availability of modern public transport contributes to congestion on city roads. Therefore, we require more transportation options like the Metro bus to ease the burden of private vehicles on busy roads.”
He also stressed the importance of proper urban planning to prevent congestion in urban areas, as aligning city road infrastructure with the needs of a growing urban population could alleviate the suffering of the masses.
“Traffic congestion leads to longer travel times, reduced productivity, and increased air pollution, resulting in winter smog and various diseases for city residents,” he remarked.
Traders have also voiced concerns about the escalating traffic congestion and encroachments, urging the district administration to launch a comprehensive operation against encroachers.
“Illegal parking of vehicles, rickshaws, motorbikes, and even carts is rampant in various commercial areas of the city, causing significant traffic congestion,” stated Shahid Ghafoor Paracha, President of the Central Anjuman-e-Tajran. “Surprisingly, it occurs unchecked in some areas, and even traffic wardens appear powerless due to the overwhelming traffic volume.”
He specifically highlighted Moti Bazaar, Raja Bazaar, China Market, Bara Bazaar, Bani Market, Circular Road, Jhota Bazar, and Tench Bhatta as areas where illegal parking makes pedestrian movement difficult.
“We raised this issue with the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi, who assured us of clearing the city from encroachers. However, we are still awaiting a result-oriented action,” Shahid stated.
Other shopkeepers like Waleed and Altaf in the Waris Khan area have called for the construction of parking plazas in city markets and strict action against violators and encroachers.
They have suggested relocating wholesale markets outside the city and designating specific areas for vendors who obstruct roads with tables, counters, and hand carts in front of their shops.
In response to the problem, a spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office stated that the administration is working on various projects to alleviate traffic congestion on city roads.
He mentioned that during her recent visit, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the completion of the Rawalpindi Ring Road by December, among other measures.
“We are swiftly moving forward to comply with her directives. This project is crucial for improving transportation, as the proposed industrial zones on the Ring Road would reduce traffic congestion in the main city,” he added.
The spokesperson expressed hope in completing the Ring Road project within the deadline and implementing multiple measures to address the public’s issues in accordance with the policies of the Punjab government.
