ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Master Plan Commission will approve a smart traffic management by introducing non-motorized transport in the capital.
A meeting of the Islamabad Master Planning Commission on Friday, chaired by Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed, decided that the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for CDA matters will henceforth be a permanent member of the commission. It was informed in the meeting that non-motorized transport would be promoted in the city under Smart Traffic Management System. Under this scheme, cycling lanes will be provided along all highways to make Islamabad a cycling and pedestrian friendly city. Apart from removing the encroachments from the side of the roads, the crossing with the highway will be marked after completing the construction of the walkway.
Apart from ensuring installation of road furniture on all roads, road signs will be marked for pedestrians on all highways. A consultant is also being engaged for Smart Traffic Management System under PC-2. It was also informed that the use of carpool and public transport service would be promoted under the Smart Traffic Management System. Congestion charge will also be levied in this regard. It was further informed in the meeting that parking plazas would be constructed at six different places in Islamabad to eliminate the problem of parking from the city. In this context, two parking plazas will be built in Blue area while four will be built in F-8 Markaz, F-10 Markaz, G-9 Markaz and I-8 Markaz areas for which the sites have been allotted.
The construction of one parking plaza has started in the blue area while the construction of the remaining five parking plazas will be started soon. After the construction of these parking plazas, roadside parking will be discouraged and fines will also be imposed.
Along with this, parking areas will be allotted in the city to further improve the parking system. Parking zone and parking policy will be prepared in this regard. In addition, an efficient parking system and culture will be promoted in Islamabad.
Giving information to the commission, it was told that under the mass transit system, the metro bus service to the new Islamabad International Airport will be made operational by March 23. It was also informed that work on Islamabad bus service has also been started. The traffic management system will be finalized after the feedback from experts.