Traffic congestion, other issues: CM promises special package for Peshawar in next ADP

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday asked the elected public representatives to rise above politics and play their respective role in the improvement and beautification of the provincial capital.

An official handout said that he was chairing a meeting on traffic congestion and other related issues in Peshawar.“A special package for Peshawar will be included in the upcoming Annual Development Programme,” he remarked

Provincial cabinet members, national and provincial assembly members from Peshawar, chief secretary, administrative secretaries of relevant departments, representatives of local government, and other officials attended the meeting. The meeting reviewed a report on traffic issues in Peshawar.

The chief minister instructed the authorities to initiate implementation of the proposed plans and emphasized that progress would be regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with the set timelines.

The chief minister said that a plan had been formulated to make Peshawar a beautiful reflection of the province.He said that a consultation would be held with the elected public representatives for development schemes for Peshawar.

The chief minister, while referring to important initiatives to improve traffic flow in Peshawar, stated that the expansion of Bus Rapid Transit and the construction of three underpasses on University Road would bring significant improvements.

He emphasized the need to focus particularly on the construction of zebra crossings and overhead bridges in Peshawar and directed that cost estimates for this purpose be presented, assuring that the government would provide the necessary resources.

The chief minister instructed the construction of overhead bridges outside educational institutions and at the entrances to markets.

The chief minister directed action against illegal parking and stressed strict enforcement of parking regulations. He instructed that implementation be ensured for building maps of plazas that include parking and that all such maps be reviewed afresh.

He made it clear that if any map has been approved without parking after the relevant law was passed, those responsible must face action, and in the future, no plazas without parking facilities should be allowed.

He also instructed the identification of suitable parking space on University Road and measures to streamline handcarts (pushcarts), directing that wherever possible, designated areas should be allocated for them.

The chief minister stated that handcarts were linked to the livelihood of poor citizens - they cannot be banned, but they can be streamlined.He directed the removal of encroachments from service and link roads and emphasized strict enforcement of the relevant law in this regard.