RAWALPINDI: The diversion plan chalked out by the traffic police to facilitate commuters during the construction of an underpass on Mall Road was enforced on Friday forcing traffic to use alternative routes.

However, traffic mess was witnessed in surrounding areas of the Mall Road as damaged roads and open manholes were hindering the police efforts to maintain the flow of traffic on the alternative routes.

To prevent any mishap, the traffic police have erected sticks and tree bushes on the open manholes on Lawrence Road despite the traffic police depart-ment having brought the issue into the notice ofthe concerned department.

A spokesman for the traffic police said on Friday that due to the construction of the underpass Mall Road had been completely closed for a short period from MH Chowk to TM Chowk and traffic had been diverted to alternative routes.

As part of the alternative traffic plan, traffic from MH Chowk to TM Chowk has been diverted to Haider Road, parallel to the Mall Road, from where traffic vehicles can easily move towards Kutchery Chowk using Marrir Chowk, Murree Road and Rashid Minhas Road, while commuters going from Golra Mor to No 22, Kalma Chowk andadjacent areas can go from Qasim Market to Kanway Road, and Harding Road to NLC Chowk to No 22 and other areas.

Parking has been banned on alternative routes, Haider Road and Murree Road, up to the Jang building u-turn.

Additional personnel have been deployed on alternative routes so that the traffic flow could be maintained and the citizens do not face any difficulties, said the spokesman.

Police have also displayed 30 banners regarding `no parking` while four fork lifters and five traffic officers have been patrolling in the areas to facilitate commuters.

`During the construction of this underpass, the senior traf-fic officer, the DSP traffic VVIP and the DSP traffic headquarters will be responsible for ensuring the flow of traffic on alternative routes.

The city traffic officer has appealed to the citizens to follow the instructions issued by the traffic police and in case of any problem or difficulty follow the social media pages of City Traffic Police or contact the helpline number 051-9274843.

`City Traffic Police is taking all possible measures to ensure the safe and comfortable travel of Rawalpindi citizens. Citizens are requested to use alternative routes during construction, obey traffic rules and contact the traffic police immediately in case of any emergency.On the other hand, the traffic police had already asked the authorities concerned to repair the damaged part/ditches on the roads to ensure the smooth flow of traffic on alternative routes otherwise road users will be facing problems.

The traffic police had also sent pictures of damaged parts of the roads located on the alternative routes which needed immediate repair.

However, a positive response from the authorities is still awaited.

Commuters, drivers and residents said they would endure hardship till completion of the project because the alternative routes were in an extremely bad condition.On the other hand, the traffic police had already asked the authorities concerned to repair the damaged part/ditches on the roads to ensure the smooth flow of traffic on alternative routes otherwise road users will be facing problems.

The traffic police had also sent pictures of damaged parts of the roads located on the alternative routes which needed immediate repair.

However, a positive response from the authorities is still awaited.

Commuters, drivers and residents said they would endure hardship till completion of the project because the alternative routes were in an extremely bad condition.