false and hollow promises
PESHAWAR: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), one of the provincial government multi-billion projects to transform public transport systems and reduce the overall traffic issues at the provincial capital, seems failed to achieve its objectives. Despite its launch on August 13, 2020, the large number of traditional private transport systems is still continuing near the corridor of BRT. They are also usually parked at nearby BRTs’ stations, rather the BRT service has made the job for these vehicles easier. Parallel stations of the local transports are made, which increased the traffic issue at Peshawar. One can see the traffic jammed at Hashtnagri, Haji Camp Adda, Firdous, University Town and University road near Khyber Teaching Hospital.
“Like false and hollow promises made in the past, the PTI government has once again failed to fulfill its promise of traffic issue to be resolved after the launch of BRT or the Tehreek-i-Insaf is helpless before this private transporters,” a local traveller, Zaheerullah Khan, said.
The traveller said that the local private transport system has been completely banned near the corridors of Islamabad-Rawalpindi Metro Bus Service, the traffic issue has been addressed there. “Due to these paralleled transport systems include mini buses, rakshaws and wagon stops, even a pedestrian cannot walk on footpaths and cannot cross the roads,” Ajmal, a local citizen, said.
While talking to this scribe a day earlier the BRT launch, the Chief Minister advisor on Information and Local Government, had vowed that owners of public transport had already been issued notices to halt their vehicles from using the BRT route after its launch.
“There are 618 local transport buses, minibuses and wagons in the city using the main road from Chamkani to Karkhano markets. Then there are thousands of rickshaws in the city. We have planned to stop the buses and wagons from using the main road while only rickshaws with permits will be allowed on roads adjacent to the BRT corridor,” he said, adding that more than 400 vehicles have voluntarily halted their service.
But, no action has been taken against these transports till date. The observers are of the view that if the issue could be resolved, the traffic problems would not be able to be addressed in the City. Abdul Hakeem Mohmand
