After a news story appeared in Pakistan Observer regarding different political parties’ flags colouring the Jinnah Avenue, the main artery of Islamabad and the fallen or twisted power pylons along the road, the city’s civic agency the Capital Develop-ment Authority (CDA) wakes up from deep slumber and does the needful.
The municipal directorate of the CDA removed these flags as well as the fallen pylons making life easier for the commuters. This reporter was ap-proached by a number of citizens who had earlier complained before the Eid holidays that the federal capital was suffering from lack of ownership from the CDA as Baboos have little interest in maintain-ing the green and clean character of Islamabad.
However, they contacted Pakistan Observer again after the Eid holidays expressing their satisfaction and gratitude that at least the Jinnah Avenue is now clear of these eyesores. On the other roads, service and link roads of the F-10 and G-10 sector however, party flags are still flying high and need the urgent attention of the civic authorities. Moreover, traffic signals remained faulty causing great discomfort for the commuters who had entered Islamabad in an overwhelming number to celebrate the Eid holidays.
The city traffic police were focusing on Faisal Ave-nue or 8th Avenue and Margalla Road where the traffic influx was seen during the Eid holidays. The rest of the roads however, remained unguarded and unattended.
Absence of traffic wardens on the roads other than Margalla Road and the 8th Avenue caused irritation and panic among the residents because on those roads too, long queues of cars and motorbikes could be observed but there were no traffic constables to regulate traffic. “We are short of staff as the major-ity of our personnel are deputed along the Faisal Avenue while the rest have gone on leave to cele-brate the festival of Eid-al-Fitr with their families,” said a traffic constable while talking to Pakistan Observer and requesting not to be named.
He also referred to thousands of cars and motor-bikes that entered the Daman-e-Koh road and went up to Monal on the first, second and the third day of Eid. Even on Saturday, which was the fourth day of Eid, there were hundreds of vehicles coming from Rawalpindi and beyond, heading towards the Monal. “We are literally performing duties round-the-clock only to streamline traffic,” he further said.
Despite the challenges such as shortage of funds, required number of traffic personnel and VIP duties the traffic police of Islamabad is giving their best.
Meanwhile, the CDA staff also remained alert dur-ing the three days of the Eid holidays ensuring cleanliness and maintenance of streets and roads during the Eid holidays.
