MINGORA: The dilapidated condition of roads in the scenic Swat valley has been hindering efforts to promote tourism industry in the militancy-hit region. Travel on almost all small and big roads of the district seems difficult and hours-long traffic jams have become a routine. Long queues of vehicles can be seen on the grand trunk road and byroads of the city.

A bypass was constructed at Qambar to streamline traffic flow in the city as it links the GT road with Kabal tehsil, Fizzagut, and other tourist spots of Swat district, but this route is now being used by many motorcyclists, leading to fatal mishaps.

The government seems to have no plan for widening the roads as it failed to reconstruct the Kalam road. The poor road infrastructure has been affecting the tourism industry since 2010 when Kalam road was washed away by severe flood.

The hotel owners say that if the government is sincere in the restoration of tourism in Swat district it must pay due attention to the construction and expansion of roads as the narrow roads are in bad shape and the tourists have been facing trouble in reaching their destinations.

Haji Zahid Khan, president of All Swat Hotels Association, said that roads played a big role in promotion of tourism. He said that roads in Swat were in bad shape for the last five years, but the government was yet to take practical steps in solving this lingering issue.

Zeerab Gul, a senior traffic police official in Mingora city, told this correspondent that roads in Swat district, particularly in Mingora city, were not in a condition where one could control the growing traffic flow. He said the traffic burden had increased manifold since the use of non-customs paid (NCP) vehicles over the last couple of years.

He stressed the need for widening the arteries and major roads in the interior city, adding that no shop owner was willing to give a piece of his land for road expansion rather they were trying to occupy more space.

He said that police were facing a lot of troubles in controlling the traffic flow, particularly during summer season when there was a rush of tourists everywhere in Swat valley.

He said that Mingora roads, still in bad condition, were being used by both the local people and tourists to approach tourist spots in parts of the valley.

“Thousands of vehicles enter the Mingora city from different rural areas of the district daily,” he said, adding that there should be a proper traffic control plan. However, it will be possible only by widening and repairing the roads.

The district administration has initiated some steps to reduce the traffic problems, but there is no permanent traffic plan with the administration to ensure smooth flow of traffic and provide relief to commuters.

“The problems related to traffic have been affecting our efforts to promote tourism in Swat,” said deputy commissioner Mehmood Aslam Wazir. He said that apart from a large number of NCP vehicles there were 3,000 to 4,000 illegal auto-rickshaws in Mingora city, which had been affecting the traffic system. “We will soon launch a campaign against illegal rickshaws to streamline traffic and facilitate both the road users,” he said.

He said that the government had acquired 50 kanals at new bypass road for establishing general bus stand to minimise traffic burden on the city routes. After shifting the Mingora bus stand to bypass road the administration will also shift the vegetable market from the city to bypass road.

Mr Wazir said that the NCP vehicles were the major source of traffic problem. He said that the district administration had already banned reassembling of vehicles by imposing Section 144 in Swat.

“We are taking all possible steps to ensure better traffic system in Mingora city to ensure that tourists do not face problems,” he said, adding that the provincial government was taking steps for revival of tourism in Swat.

He said that they would soon carry out work on a plan for beautification of Mingora city, which would be implemented with a cost of Rs80 million. “Apart from necessary repair of roads, the monuments, green belt and squares will also be constructed under the project,” he said.

Answering a question, the deputy commissioner said that reconstruction of Kalam road was a longstanding demand of the people and work on this road would be started soon. He said that this road was a key to promotion of tourism in the scenic valleys of Kalam, Utror, Mahudand, etc.

“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has awarded lease of Malam Jabba ski resort to a private company for 33 years,” Mr Wazir said and added that the company would construct five-star and three-star hotels in Malam Jabba besides installing the chairlift and developing ski track. He said that the provincial government had demarcated 275 acres for the project.

The deputy commissioner said that the government would also repair and widen the approach road to Malam Jabba. “The district administration will demolish encroachments in Malam Jabba to make the valley a beautiful picnic resort for the visitors,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2014