May 13, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 7, 1429

PESHAWAR, May 12: NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has given a go-ahead to the newly-formulated Rs60 million traffic plan for Peshawar city to overcome the ever increasing traffic problems.

Directing the finance department for the release of the funds, the chief minister said the traffic police would be equipped with the latest vehicles, motorcycles and other allied facilities to enable them to cope with traffic related problems in the city.

He was presiding over a meeting to discuss the new traffic plan at his office here on Monday. Besides IG traffic, other high ranking officials were also present in the meeting.

The meeting discussed matters related to traffic management, rider beat, transportation and increase in salaries of traffic officials and the receipt of fines.

The chief minister said that because of lack of proper infrastructure, the unruly traffic in the city had paralysed the lives of common people, adding the new traffic plan would help ease traffic snarls to a great degree.

Mr Hoti stressed the need for resolving the traffic related issues by introducing reforms and planning and agreed with the proposal of launching a phase-wise programme to improve the traffic system.

The chief minister said that drivers should be educated on the traffic rules, adding that lack of awareness about the rules was a key factor behind traffic violations.

He also stressed the need for close coordination among the district government, traffic police, City Development and Municipal Department and Regional Transport Authority, saying that lack of coordination always resulted in multiplying the problems. Mr Hoti agreed to the proposal of increasing the fine amount from Rs50 to Rs100.

Meanwhile, the chief minister also approved alignment study on Mardan bypass road. An amount of Rs200 million would be set aside for the project in the next annual development programme. The 17-kilometre-long road will be completed at a cost of Rs700 million in four years.

Presiding over a meeting of the Frontier Highway Authority (FHA) on Monday, the chief minister said it was mandatory on the officials concerned to confirm work on the already approved ongoing schemes.

He directed the finance department to show no lethargy in releasing funds for the project.