Transporters in Peshawar disrupt traffic for hours

PESHAWAR: Transporters on Wednesday blocked main roads in the provincial capital for several hours to protest against increase in fees by transport department.

For hours, public transport stayed off the roads, while closure of main roads due to strike and diversion of vehicles created a worst traffic jam in most parts of the city.Thousands of commuters including elderly, women and children were forced to walk in the scorching sun and remained stranded in the traffic gridlock.

The closure of public transport also provided an opportunity to taxicabs and rickshaws to fleece commuters as they continued to charge nearly double of the normal fare. The strike started at around 10am when Public Transport Owners Association (POTA) leaders along with scores of vehicles left for Peshawar Press Club, creating traffic jam on the way.

Traffic police closed down Justice Rustam Kiyani Road for traffic, diverting vehicles towards Khyber Road and Khyber Bazaar, which led to traffic congestion in Soekarno Square, Shuba Bazaar and also created bottleneck for commuters on GT Road and its associated arteries.

Transporters also blocked Sher Shah Suri Road near Governor’s House, near Peshawar Press Club and also blocked Saddar Road in front of Benevolent Fund building, where directorate of transport offices are located.

The protest continued for about four hours and ended at around 1am after talks between protesters and director transport KP. However, the protesting transporters threatened that if their issue was not resolved, they will again close down the city on the day of provincial budget on June 6.