About 300 individuals will be hired by the Traffic Department of the Kabul Municipality to streamline the movement of vehicles in the capital.
Amid growing complaints of traffic jams from citizens, Kabul Mayor Ahmad Zaki Sarfaraz said the appointees would undergo special training on better traffic regulation.
He said the 300 individuals would work jointly with traffic police to facilitate the movement of schoolchildren, citizens, oversee roads and check traffic rule violations.
At least 43 individuals had been hired so far and the process for the appointment of others was underway, the official said.
Continued traffic jams and road blockades have prompted complaints from drivers and inhabitants of the nation’s capital.
Mohammad Sakhi, a driver, told Pajhwok Afghan news roads remained clogged most of the time in this city, causing the public a lot of inconvenience.
“But for the last three weeks, snarl-ups have been a routine affair on Malik Asghar, Wazir Akbar Khan, Deh Afghanan, airport, Deh Mazang and Kota-i-Sangi roads.”
Taxi driver Azizullah said: “I picked up passengers from Qambar Square at 9:30am and reached Pashtunistan Square at 11:30am.”
Ahmad Shah, a resident of Kabul, linked traffic congestion to violations of traffic rules by most drivers.
Despite media reports on the issue, traffic police officers allowed vendors to sell goods on roads, he said, accusing the authorities of taking bribes.
Shah said: “I think days have become short. Government servants, shopkeepers and other people return home at the same time. This leads to frequent traffic jams.”
Khalil Rahman, another resident, blamed security forces and powerful individuals for closing roads leading to Shash Darak, Foreign Ministry and other areas. He said the situation led to traffic congestion in the city.
An increase in the number of security check-points also resulted in road closures in the capital, believed Javed, a driver.
Mohammad Hanif Alikhel, another Kabul dweller, remarked: “People are tired of traffic congestion. Half of your life here is spent waiting on roads.”
He suggested vendors should be removed from roads and traffic police officers directed to discharge their duty efficiently.
