Undoubtedly Sind government is working hard to create better facilities for the people of Karachi in different areas. However, they have done extremely well in the health sector. But are lagging behind in education sector, transport sector, water and sewerage area, nullah filth and garbage, the broken and uneven roads have become big reason of traffic jams and increase in street crimes. Except few areas rest is all muck. Karachi being metropolitan city remains main attraction for the people of other provinces who regularly come Karachi in search of jobs due to greater job facilities. As a result Karachi always remains under pressure to manage basic facilities. People keep facing power gas and water shortages. But most neglected field has been city roads and poor control of hap hazard traffic by Karachi traffic police. Even at times VIP roads face traffic jams. When a patient goes to doctor he under thorough examination and he suggests some tests, once the report is received the medicines are prescribed accordingly. The doctor first finds the root cause of his sickness. Notwithstanding, who was the traffic chief situation is getting out of control. Traffic police tries its best but there are plenty of flaws in their modus operandi. I was keenly watching press conference of Senior Minister of Government Sind who is Information minister also disclosed that Green Line BT service will be handed over by December. Orange Line BRT has been completed. Red Line and Yellow BRT projects to be expedited. Naturally when all these projects are completed it will help people a great deal and bring relief to people of Karachi.
But here my focus is performance of traffic police on major arteries of Karachi who do try their best but until and unless they improve upon their existing system of checking, the people cannot get proper relief and overcoming traffic jam shall remain dream of commuters. Before giving suggestions for improvement, let us find out the root cause and flaws of traffic congestion throughout Karachi.
1. Lack of enforcement of traffic rules
2. Illegal parking of vehicles under police arrangements
3. Allowing heavy traffic on busy roads during rush hours
4. Motor Cyclists moving in fast lane middle lane and moving in all directions
5. Motor cyclists driving without helmets
6. Some Motor cyclists carrying helmets but not wearing
7. 99.9% Motor cycles are without side mirrors
8. Stop 5 motor cyclists any time on any road their number plates are different
9. Mostly motor cyclists violate one way traffic
10. Vehicles with “Black Mirrors and Black papers”
11. Motor cyclists driving with more than two people
12. Teen agers driving in front of traffic police
13. Commuters not stopping on Zebra crossing
14. Breaking of traffic signal common habit
15. Commuters covering half the road in anticipation without waiting for signal lights
16. Motor cyclists reading messages on their mobile phones and car drivers using mobiles while driving
17. Drivers carrying incomplete documents
18. Rikshaw drivers driving wearing slippers instead of proper shoes
19. Overloading in Rikshaws and Suzukis
20. Stopping of vehicles in the middle of road
21. Driving without documents
22. Government vehicles violating traffic rules
23. Commuters breaking signals in presence of traffic police
24. No checking by traffic police against drivers driving in second and third line while turning left or turning right
25. Different vehicles without back light
26. Vehicles specially coaches stopping on the corner of roads
27. Encroachment of shop keepers and hotel operators covering half the road besides foot path
28. Lifting of motor cycles, cars etc. by traffic police
29. Instant challan on violations instead rendering advise
30. Selective checking and ignoring major defaulters
31. SOP not followed after accident
32. Commuters breaking lanes
33. Right of road not followed
34. Very old damaged Coaches Mazdas Plying on the road
35. Breaking lane trying to overtake and enter in other lanes
36. Over speeding
37. Motor cyclists driving with broken silencers
38. 3 to 5 Traffic police officers standing together checking two to three motor cyclists.
These are some of the points many more can be added in the list. However, if some preventive measures are taken by traffic police situation can be improved. Traffic Police is not revenue collective agency, they are neither tax collectors. They should stop check and advise them instead imposing fined.
WAY OUT. Traffic police in all districts while moving in their transport must carry PA system and keep telling all motor cyclists and rickshaw drivers coach drivers to move on extreme left of the road. This exercise has to be conducted for a week. Secondly all roads be cleared of encroachments again giving them warning of one week. All tinted glasses vehicles be confiscated for one week with heavy fine. It is 75 years now we are carrying out this exercise along with Rangers and traffic police seen removing the black sheets from glasses. Commuters overtaking other vehicle wrongly be heavily fined. No one to use cell phone while driving. No heavy vehicles before midnight. If above suggestions are implemented the traffic jams can be controlled to some extent.
