PESHAWAR, Sept 5: Despite incurring millions of rupees, the Arbab Sikandar Khan Khalil Flyover has failed to ease traffic mess on GT Road in the provincial capital.

Traffic jams have become a routine in Hashtnagri area, near provincial assembly building, in Khyber Bazaar, on Sher Shah Suri Road and even in parts of cantonment areas, motorists, motorcyclists and commuters said.

They said they had thought that the construction of the flyover would do away with the traffic chaos on GT Road, but that didn’t happen.

Road users complained of frequent gridlocks on GT Road and blamed them on the inefficiency of traffic police.

They said people had to suffer as there was no chance to turn vehicles because traffic had also flooded link roads.

An official of traffic police said heavy traffic from Khyber Road had diverted to Sher Shah Suri and Shami roads for security reasons and VIP movement.

He said movement of traffic from the General Bus Stand side had been controlled due to flyover but there was no easing of traffic mess in Hashtnagri area due to the presence of a U-turn opposite to the building of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commence and Industry.

“We have suggested that an effective drive against encroachments and illegal vehicles be launched for room on all roads but there are some hurdles to it from local politicians,” an official said.

He said illegal stands of wagons and rickshaws were main reason for traffic jams but the government was unwilling to take action against them as most of them were owned by the members of the ruling coalition. It was observed on Wednesday that traffic coming from Peshtakhara Chowk on Bara Road was not allowed to cross railway tracks at Bara Gate and diverted to Shaheen Colony Road. Similarly, heavy traffic on the way to Sarband side was diverted to the road of Gulberg police station. The SP traffic couldn’t be contacted despite repeated attempts.—Bureau Report