Traffic congestion on the roads of Pol-e Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province, is making daily life difficult for residents. Drivers complain about higher fuel costs and blocked roads, residents say they are often late for work and school, and shopkeepers report a drop in the number of customers.
As the city’s population grows and the number of vehicles increases, traffic congestion has become a daily problem for residents of Pol-e Khumri. It not only wastes time and increases costs but also negatively affects people’s quality of life.
Mohammad Nabi Seddiqi, a taxi driver in Pol-e Khumri, says traffic congestion has had a negative impact on his work and income.
“Traffic has made our work difficult. I used to carry passengers 12 to 15 times a day, but now I make fewer trips because of traffic jams. We sometimes spend hours stuck in traffic,” he says.
Najibullah, another driver in Pol-e Khumri, also complains that traffic congestion has increased his vehicle’s fuel consumption. He says that parking vehicles in inappropriate places and roadside businesses are among the main causes of traffic jams.
“My biggest problem is traffic congestion. People park their vehicles in places where parking is not allowed, causing traffic jams. Some shopkeepers also sell goods along the roads, which causes road congestion,” he says.
Mohammad Baqer Osmani, another driver in Pol-e Khumri, considers not following traffic rules one of the main causes of traffic congestion.
“Our biggest problems while driving are right-hand-drive cars and people who have recently returned from abroad and are not familiar with traffic rules,” he adds.
At the same time, a number of residents of Pol-e Khumri say heavy traffic prevents them from reaching their destinations on time and disrupts their daily routines.
Mohammad Sharif, a resident of Pol-e Khumri, says traffic congestion prevents him from following his daily plans.
“A lot of our time is wasted because of traffic congestion. When we take our children to school or madrasa, or go there ourselves, we face traffic jams. Because of this, we arrive late and cannot follow the schedules we have set for the school or madrasa,” he says.
Ahmad Nawid also says that increasing traffic congestion often prevents him from reaching work on time.
“Most of the time, I cannot get to work on time because of traffic. Sometimes, the congestion is so bad that I am delayed by 30 minutes to an hour. Because of this, I cannot reach my workplace or other places on time,” he says.
Traffic congestion has also affected shopkeepers’ businesses in Pol-e Khumri. A number of shopkeepers say that blocked roads and fewer customers visiting their shops have led to a decline in sales. Mohammad Khalid, a shopkeeper in Pol-e Khumri, says:
“Traffic has greatly affected our business. When roads are crowded and blocked, customers cannot come to our shops to buy goods. As a result, our sales decline. However, when there is no traffic and the roads are clear, customers can easily reach our shops, and our sales level increases.”
Meanwhile, Fawad Hotak, head of the publications department at Pol-e Khumri Municipality, identifies the growing number of Passo cars, vehicles operating without valid documents, and the unregulated activities of shopkeepers, street vendors, and pushcart vendors as some of the main causes of traffic congestion in the city.
“Pol-e Khumri Municipality has taken practical steps through its Market Regulation and Urban Discipline Managent to clear congested areas and ease traffic jams across the city. These measures have already started and include organizing street vendors and pushcart vendors to reduce congestion and improve order in the city,” he adds.
Ahmadullah Ahmadi Shinwari, head of traffic management in Baghlan, also says that checkpoints have been set up in four zones of the city to control the entry of vehicles that contribute to traffic congestion.
“We have set up checkpoints in the four zones of the city to control the entry of right-hand-drive and prevent further traffic congestion. In addition, following instructions from the provincial authorities and the Baghlan police command, an ‘Urban Regulation Committee’ has been formed to address problems within the city. In recent days, the committee has taken steps to address existing urban problems effectively and has achieved positive results,” he says.
However, non-standard roads, the growing number of vehicles, a lack of proper parking facilities, disobedience to traffic rules, and limited facilities for traffic control are among the main factors contributing to traffic congestion in cities across Afghanistan.
Reporter: Marina Shirzai
