KARACHI: Commuters and road users witnessed sever traffic jams in almost all districts on Monday as authorities blamed security arrangements for the Pakistan Super League in the National Stadium, also referred to as National Bank Cricket Arena, for the traffic woes in the city.

Almost all major thoroughfares were filled with a large number of vehicles on the first day of the week after two-day weekly break.

Shopping spree before Ramazan in major shopping centres and urgency by many road users to get home on the eve of the blessed month to offer Taraveeh also contributed to the traffic congestions.

From East district to South and Central to Korangi, long queues of vehicles on major roads and hours-long snarl-ups on key roads tested patience of public.

Although traffic police authorities through their social media platforms and FM Radio channel service kept motorists updated about blockages of traffic in different parts of the city, it took hours to restore normal flow of vehicles after deployment of extra police force in many areas.

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“In Central and East districts, there were multiple reasons for the traffic jams,” said an official.

“There is a PSL match going on, which has led to blockades of several routes for security. It has also caused traffic jams on many connecting roads in the two districts. In other districts, with the beginning of Ramazan, and urgency by people to get home for Taraveeh and more than usual crowd at commercial centres are major reasons for traffic jams.”

According to Karachi traffic, the areas which suffered most included Hino Chowrangi, Singer Chow­rangi, Vita Chowrangi, Godam Chowrangi, Korangi Causeway and Korangi Expressway in Korangi district.

In East district, Sir Shah Muhammad Sulaiman Road, Rashid Minhas Road, Sharea Faisal to airport, University Road and Baloch Colony witnessed severe traffic jams for hours.

The South district was no different where I. I. Chundrigar Road, Shaheen Complex, Abdullah Haroon Road, Teen Talwar, M.A. Jinnah Road, Chaudhry Khaliq Uz Zaman Road, Gizri Road and Garden areas suffered hours-long traffic congestions.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2024