Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Tuesday approved a citywide emergency plan to ease chronic traffic congestion in Peshawar, ordering strict enforcement of traffic laws, removal of encroachments and immediate infrastructure fixes to restore smooth vehicular flow across key arteries of the provincial capital.
The decisions were taken at a meeting held on the directives of the chief minister and chaired by Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mahsud, where a comprehensive enforcement and infrastructure strategy was finalised to curb one-way violations, unsafe U-turns, illegal parking and roadside obstructions.
Under the plan, authorities will ensure strict enforcement of one-way and parking regulations, while damaged tyre-bursts at 20 locations will be repaired, 19 open manholes closed and no-parking and one-way signboards installed at 35 critical points across the city. Fourteen unnecessary and unsafe U-turns identified as major traffic bottlenecks will be closed, while U-turns at Kabootar Chowk Ring Road, Pishtakhara Chowk Ring Road and Hayatabad will be allowed on a trial basis.
To strengthen traffic management, approval was granted for the installation of modern traffic signals at 11 major intersections and construction of central medians on 14 important roads. Temporary concrete blocks at six locations will be replaced with permanent iron grills to improve road safety and durability.
Addressing encroachments, the meeting approved relocation of handcart markets operating at 25 congestion-prone sites to alternative locations. Proposals for construction of parking plazas at four locations were also cleared, while electricity and telephone poles obstructing roads at five points will be removed immediately. Damaged roads at 16 locations will undergo urgent repair and rehabilitation.
The commissioner also decided to immediately commence construction of underpasses at four identified traffic choke points to provide long-term relief to commuters.Directing all departments to ensure swift implementation of the decisions, Commissioner Riaz Khan Mahsud sought a progress report within 48 hours and announced a follow-up meeting to review compliance, warning that negligence or delay would invite strict disciplinary action.
