SWABI: People have been facing problems due to frequent traffic jams here on Swabi-Mardan road where construction work is underway these days.

The rush of vehicles on the road often results in hours-long suspension of traffic as they have to pass through a narrow dusty strip which could not absorb the traffic load.

The commuters said that the contractor of the project had failed to sprinkle water and the dust rising from the under-construction road was causing serious diseases like cough, chest congestion and respiratory problems among the people.

The public transporters said that the traffic police remained absent from the areas of traffic rush, which resulted in problems for them and the commuters. He said that hours-long jams had made the journey difficult for them.

Mustafa Khan, who was stuck in heavy traffic, said that without traffic police the issue of traffic jams could not be resolved.

Abbas Ali, a public transporter, said that it was the responsibility of the traffic police to be present at the key spots of the road to control the flow of vehicles.

When contacted, an official said that the number of vehicles had been increasing in the district day by day, leading to traffic issues.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2021