RAWALPINDI: More than 53,000 tourist vehicles arrived in Murree on Independence Day, despite the hill station having parking space for 5,000.
The tourist influx continued on Thursday.
A spokesman for the traffic police said that more than 53,000 tourist vehicles had entered Murree so far, compared to its capacity for only 5,000 vehicles.
The city traffic police have been taking all possible measures to facilitate tourists.
More than 200 traffic police personnel perform duty on Independence Day
He mentioned that over 200 traffic police officers were present on Independence Day to help visitors. Despite 53,000 vehicles having arrived in Murree so far, a significant number of them departed simultaneously.
According to the traffic police spokesman, between 6,000 and 9,000 vehicles were in Murree at any one time, as reported by Dawn.
Driving licenses are being verified at entry points and checkpoints to guarantee the safety of tourists, while motorcyclists not wearing helmets are being denied entry to Murree.
The traffic police spokesman announced that entry to Mall Road without family is prohibited on Independence Day.
CTO Waseem Akhtar and Traffic Officer Sohail Shahzad have been overseeing traffic management in Murree directly, the spokesman stated.
Traffic is flowing smoothly on all roads in Murree, which are now open. The spokesperson stated that safety travel pamphlets are also being handed out to tourists.
Nevertheless, he mentioned that there was unusual traffic congestion caused by the influx of pedestrians at GPO Chowk, urging tourists to adhere to traffic regulations for a safe and pleasant journey.
He recommended that tourists only use the parking areas designated by the traffic police.
He advised travelers to steer clear of forming double lanes and to avoid unlawful parking, as authorities are consistently monitoring to deter infractions and maintain a smooth flow of traffic.
In light of the monsoon rains, the City Traffic Police Murree has released a specific traffic advisory for tourists.
Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Waseem Akhtar instructed the traffic police to verify the driving licenses and fitness certificates of public service vehicles entering Murree, as it is a mountainous region, following the SOP.
Additionally, he counseled visitors to pick appropriate vehicles for their trip to Murree, maintain clean wipers and lights, stop from speeding on slick roads and sharp curves, and not break one-way traffic laws or improperly pass.
Double lines should be avoided because all of Murree’s roadways are two-way. According to the CTO, cars shouldn’t be parked on the road for photo ops because this disrupts traffic flow.
Traffic wardens are crucial in maintaining safety and simplifying travel, therefore tourists should heed their directions.
