Crowded Murree Road give tough time to commuters

RAWALPINDI: Driving on the crowded Murree Road always gives tough time to the commuters when they face traffic mess during the peak hours in the city.

Commuters are facing various traffic problems especially on their way to Chandni Chowk to Mureer Chowk owing to increased number of vehicles, traffic mismanagement and rules' violation.

The underpass at Committee Chowk has not facilitated the commuters in managing huge traffic but compelled them to face rush for long hours.

"Most of the traffic signals are not functioning and the officials of traffic police never bother to control the traffic in proper manner which sometimes cause accidents due to the negligence of van drivers, bike riders who usually violate traffic rules.

Murree road is the shortest way for the commuters traveling from Rawalpindi to Islamabad but many people use IJP road and other adjacent roads to avoid the traffic mess, Sonia said.

"If we follow traffic rules we cannot reach office on time soone has to take risk as there is no other option except for violating traffic rules," Zahid, an office employee said.

It is difficult to follow rules when there are no lane marking, zebra crossings on roads and marking on speed breakers. While absence of cat eyes also cause trouble for commuters at nighttime, he said.

"I get exhausted by waiting for hours in the huge rush at the Murree Road in morning while going to the office and remain unable to focus on official work", Asad, an employee said.

A project of large amount under city development package was announced to improve and streamline the signaling system of city roads but has not been implemented yet, he said.

Another working woman, Saeeda while terming driving on Murree Road as not less than any nightmare said "I prefer to travel from highway which is long distance way toward my destination but is not crowded".

From donkey carts to buses, the variety of vehicles are plying on this busy road and the van drivers usually stop anywhere on the roads to pick the passengers which create disorder, she said.

There is need to train the traffic officials so that they can ensure smooth flow of traffic on the roads, Saeeda said.