The announcement followed a long consultative meeting held at the deputy commissioner’s office on Saturday, attended by traders, citizens and the presidents of various unions, where the planned operation was discussed in detail.
Kazmi said traders had been informed in advance so that anyone who had set up an encroachment could remove it before the operation began, otherwise it would be removed by the administration.
“We all have to work together to free the city completely from traffic congestion and remove encroachments wherever they exist,” the deputy commissioner said, according to the report.
Parking points will be set up at different places inside the city, he said, adding that a plan has been prepared to deal with the traffic problems caused by handcarts and pushcarts on the roads. Action will be taken without discrimination so that ordinary citizens can move around the city with dignity, he said.
Motorcycles and rickshaws parked at city intersections were described as the biggest traffic problem, and separate stands will be fixed for them so that no rickshaw or motorcycle is parked at any intersection.
The deputy commissioner said the strictest action would be taken against any vehicle or motorcycle in the city found without documents. Mosques and madrasas inside the city have been asked to keep their parking gates open during prayer times so that worshippers can park their vehicles and motorcycles inside and offer prayers.
Heavy vehicles, including loader vehicles, will not be allowed to enter the city after 7:30 in the morning, Kazmi said.
He also told fruit and vegetable wholesalers in the city to improve the quality of their produce, saying it was not acceptable to charge the public the price of first-quality goods while supplying poor quality. Transport fares should also be reduced in the same proportion as petrol and diesel prices fall, he said.
The deputy commissioner said the administration’s job was to provide facilities and relief to ordinary citizens.
