T-Chowk turns into nightmare for commuters

Islamabad: The T-Chowk as it is widely known at the start of Islamabad Expressway has become a living nightmare for thousands of commuters who face daily traffic jams, broken and constricted road, and long delays due to traffic jam. Despite repeated promises, no construction work has resumed at the site since three months, leaving motorists and residents in a state of constant frustration.

Every morning and evening, rush hour turns into chaos as vehicles pile up for miles just to get a u turn to go to Islamabad or to get further up to GT Road. The condition of the road is worst because half of the road is divided due to unfinished work. Broken road patches and unfinished two lanes further slowdown traffic to a crawl. In a desperate attempt to escape the gridlock, many drivers take abrupt U-turns, further worsening the traffic situation.

Saira Hasan, an entrepreneur who lives in DHA Phase 5, who has an outlet in Bahria Town said that she has to take a U-turn before T-Chowk to go to DHA-2, even that U-Turn comes after police barrier which allows only two lanes to pass through. It takes at least 15 to 20 minutes just to reach the U-Turn because of trucks and buses.

Residents of nearby housing societies like Emaar and DHA Phase-2 have expressed deep concern over the authorities inaction. “The rest of the Islamabad Expressway has been completed, but this last stretch near T-Chowk has been left hanging for nearly four years,” said a resident of DHA-2. “It’s unbelievable that such a vital junction still has no proper infrastructure till now. We heard that a flyover would be made on T Chowk but so far not a single brick has been laid for this purpose. It’s a pity how commuters welfare are left unfinished and no progress is being made in this regard for so long,” a resident said.

The Islamabad Expressway is a key artery connecting the capital to Rawat, and ultimately to rest of Punjab. The delay in completing the final stretch at T-Chowk is not only affecting daily commuters but also causing economic losses and daily mental stress to commuters.

To make the matters worse, the silver man and the other vendors roam around the cars to sell their products while people are stuck in the traffic jams. Citizens are urging the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and FWO to immediately resume and expedite construction work at T-Chowk to ease the growing suffering of the public.