Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Mahmood Khan approved a sum of PKR 200 million for a traffic management plan in Peshawar, a news source reported. The provincial government aims to manage the traffic from Pir Zakori Bridge to Dabgeri Garden areas in the city with this plan.
According to a statement issued in this regard, the authorities concerned would implement the said traffic management plan in Zone F, which comprises of the following areas:
Lady Reading Hospital
Balahisar
Kohat Road-Ring Road
Dabgeri Garden
Pir Zakori Bridge-Balahisar areas
The provincial government aims to implement this plan on a pilot basis, while it will cover the rest of the five zones using a similar plan at a later date.
Approving the plan and the funds required during a recent meeting, the CM agreed that the deputy commissioner (DC) will have to take the lead in ensuring the speedy implementation of the said traffic management plan. He also issued orders for a crackdown against encroachments, as well as the strict enforcement of traffic and parking laws.
CM Mahmood assured that the KP government would extend the help and support required to streamline traffic in the city.
The officials concerned briefed the meeting about the devised traffic management plan. They revealed that the plan would comprise of mixed traffic lanes, and the division of Peshawar into six zones. They added that the Office of the DC had already completed a PC-I for this purpose.
According to the officials, they have identified 26 congestion points in Zone F that poorly impact the city’s traffic. They indicated the major hurdles as follows:
The officials also indicated safety problems including:
Use of mobile phones while driving
Failure to fasten seat belts
Lack of public awareness on traffic rules
Speeding & lack of land discipline from drivers
Poor enforcement of traffic laws
Lack of advanced traffic control devices (traffic signs, signals, pavement markings, etc.)
The officials informed the meeting that the new traffic management plan included corrective measures for addressing these issues. They added that they have identified 46 short-term traffic measures for Zone F, while they had begun a survey for another zone.
Regarding the Peshawar BRT corridor, the officials told the meeting’s members about the congestion points on mixed traffic lanes along the corridor. They added that to address the issues, the transport department had notified a joint team, while authorities concerned had completed a survey of these mixed lanes.
The officials revealed that the first phase of the traffic management project would be implemented at a cost of PKR 200 million, which would be sourced from the already cleared Annual Development Programme (ADP) initiative for the uplift and beautification of the city.
