Law enforcement traffic system

(Moizzara Zafar, )

Traffic situation in Karachi is getting worse with each passing day. On one hand vehicles are increasing vehicles are not being maintained in proper conditions. Goods transport, public transport and personal vehicles travel on the same road. Public transport uses two or three CNG kits in one vehicle which pose a grave danger to the safety of passengers.

Karachi has an estimated population of nearly 24 million. According to a study done by Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) in 2012. The city has nearly 6,457 buses of various sizes operating on 150 routes. It also has 2,715 contract carriages, buses and luxury coaches that organizations and individuals can hire for temporary transportation and these are not the only modes of transport on the city’s roads minibuses, taxi cabs, auto rickshaws, multiple-seat motorcycle rickshaws, private cars, motorcycles, school buses, private vans, ambulances, tankers, mini-trucks anything that can run on an engine attached to wheels can be seen plying in Karachi.

The Transport Crisis explores at Karachi. Too much time spent in travelling and waiting for buses, travelling standing, travelling on bus rooftops, suffering injuries, being forced to leave the bus before reaching their destination for one reason or the other harassment of women commuters, damage to attire, non-standardization of bus fares and a fear of the gas cylinder (which is placed within the bus) exploding. It also states that traffic is becoming unmanageable and its congestion and the air and noise pollution have become harmful to the health of its commuting public.

There are indeed, too many vehicles on the roads even when the number of buses has decreased. On February 3, 2016 Karachi’s mass transit department made an announcement in newspapers that Karachi will soon have a mass transit system comprising a Green Line, an Orange Line, a Yellow Line and a Red Line as part of a mass transit development plan JICA devised in 2012. The proposed system includes the construction of six Bus Rapid Transits (BRTs), two Metro Rapid Transits (MRTs) and the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) which was originally established in 1964.

Two out of the six proposed BRTs are at early stages of implementation: utility relocation for the Orange Line has started in front of the Jinnah University for Women in North Nazimabad. Water pipes, gas lines and electric wires are being relocated to facilitate construction for the BRT which will run right in the centre of the existing roads. The shortest of the six proposed lines, the 2.2 kilometre Orange Line will begin near the Board Office in Nazimabad, heading northwest towards the Town Municipal Office in Orangi. The Sindh government will fund this entire line, estimated to cost 2.4 billion rupees and expected to benefit 50,000 people a day.

On another hand major reason for traffic jams and mishaps in Karachi is lack of civic sense in drivers. Most drivers are either unaware of traffic rules or they simply do not bother. Jumping lanes, overtaking, speeding and all causing frustration, depression and hyper tension around them. The majority of the unwanted incidents occurring on the roads are caused by hasty, unruly and risky driving practice just because of ignorance to Traffic Rules. People get driving licenses through the recommendations of influential people without even getting prior training. Such ill trained drivers are liable to make fatal mistakes, thus putting into danger their own lives as well as those of other innocent citizens sharing the common route. Secondly, careless attitude is also noticed among the general public who only make haste while crossing the road from any point they find feasible for themselves.

Our government and traffic police department must make the conditions of roads good. Different timing for starting and closings of offices and schools should be done to avoid the rush in the morning, afternoon and evening on roads. If they do so, there will be fewer chances of accidents and traffic will move smoothly in the city and people will find themselves easy in driving.
 

Moizzara Zafar
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