IPRI conducts survey on Islamabad traffic problems

KARACHI: Increasing population, haphazard extension of the landmass, rise in number of vehicles and lack of public transport are major reasons for the Federal Capital’s traffic woes, a study showed.

The Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) conducted a first of its kind survey for a thorough assessment of the Federal Capital’s traffic issues.

In the landmark initiative, IPRI conducted the survey by physically interacting with the general public, drivers, police personnel and other stakeholders.

IPRI’s Research team comprised of Muhammad Nawaz Khan, Usama Nizamani and Atif Aziz.

The intention was to study the increasing traffic congestion in Islamabad as well as the twin cities; to evaluate and highlight factors contributing towards congestion and to survey public and Islamabad Traffic Police perceptions and to articulately recommend solutions to the policy makers for the alleviation of traffic issues.

Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Rumina Khursheed Alam, senior police and Interior Ministry officials, civil society members and heads of Think-Tanks in Islamabad attended the session.

IPRI President Ambassador Raza Muhammad (Retd) highlighted the significance of the study and observed that the number of vehicles have risen disproportionate to the size of bulging population.

Until and unless the traffic is regulated as per ground realities and scientific mechanism, the problem will persist, he added.

Director Research Brig Raashid Wali Janjua (Retd), whose team led the research, eulogised the potential of such surveys and said that data-driven research and recommendations are essential to have a proper policy-making, and the twin-cities traffic is a test case of IPRI’s involvement in the civil affairs on a scientific premise.

The intention of the survey was to bring to fore a scientific assessment on the management of traffic, and appropriate suggestions and measures were pointed out to overcome the prevailing mess.

The survey found that an increase in population, rise in number of vehicles, lack of public transport, absence of digital and scientific approach in manning traffic and poor road engineering were among the major reasons for the traffic congestion.

The study suggested increasing the strength of ITP personnel to 2700 from 691, a transparent policy of direct recruitment, especially from BPS-1 to BPS-7 and increasing the transport pool of vehicles.

It was also recommended to improve the driving licencing regime at par with the international standards, especially the one in vogue in the UAE.