Residents demand pedestrian bridges

ISLAMABAD: Billions of rupees have been spent in the capital on the construction of new avenues and highways to facilitate smooth traffic flow but little attention is being paid to the safety of pedestrians by erecting pedestrian bridges at the busy avenues.

Residents demand of installing pedestrian bridges at various points on busy Faisal Avenue, 9th Avenue, 7th Avenue, I.J Principal road, Islamabad Highway and Kashmir Highway was not paid any heed despite many fatal accidents.

Pedestrians lives are at risk by not constructing a pedestrian bridge to facilitate the residents of Sectors G-8 and G-7, which lie on the opposite side of Faisal Avenue, residents complained.

It is to be kept in mind that PIMS Hospital, Noori Hospital, Rescue 15 office, schools and colleges and officials residential colonies located in Sector G-8 and pedestrian underwent a risky task of crossing the busy faisal avenue on daily basis.

"Worse situations can be witnessed during peak hours at various busy locations when students, women and elderly people keep waiting for long time to cross the road safely," he said.

Abdul Karim, a resident of H-9 sector, said, "The road is too wide to allow people on foot to cross, and at times, you see women with little children crossing the road."

According to Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP), many people lost their lives and get injured while crossing highways in absence of necessary pedestrian bridges.

A senior CDA official said that on some busy crossing points, they already had installed overhead bridges.

He said the problem at Zero Point would be resolved soon, as pedestrian bridges would be installed at four locations under the Zero Point Interchange project.