Illegal U-turns, broken dividers worsen traffic chaos in capital

ISLAMABAD: The traffic situation in the federal capital is worsening day by day, with commuters resorting to breaking road dividers at various locations to create illegal U-turns.

The chaos is apparently fuelled by frequent road closures due to security concerns during VIP movements. During these hours, commuters resort to “making their own way” by tearing down road dividers to bypass the barriers erected by security officials.

As a result of these “interventions,” key roads in the capital, including those linked to Iran Avenue, have been severely damaged despite being built at a cost of millions.

Likewise, Iran Avenue, Park Road, and other major arteries of Islamabad have also become hotspots for traffic violations, with broken dividers and unauthorised U-turns becoming a common sight.

Although these roads were constructed under planned development projects, they are now marred by illegal shortcuts, taken regularly by commuters. 

Moreover, traffic police personnel are often seen absent from these areas, allowing violations to continue unchecked.

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The silence of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and district administration has further complicated the issue. Despite multiple traffic accidents occurring on these roads, authorities have failed to take any concrete action. 

Motorists justifying their actions argue that these illegal U-turns help save fuel, though they admit the risk to life remains high. Meanwhile, traffic police only arrive at the scene once an accident has already occurred, with little effort to prevent violations in advance. 

Commenting on the situation, Islamabadis were of the view that rising number of traffic violations and accidents highlights the need for stricter law enforcement and proactive measures.

However, they expressed disappointment over the indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned, claiming that they continue to ignore the growing problem of serious traffic violations and the resulting damage to infrastructure.