NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION,

PESHAWAR

37th Senior Management Course (SMC)

WRITE UP

CURRENT ISSUE PRESENTATION (CIP)

Alleviating Traffic Gridlock in Peshawar:

A Call for Creative Solutions and Strategic Planning

BY

Muhammad Siraj Munir

PPS-KP

Signature:

Date: 25th February, 2025

Paper Supervised by: Tariq Bakhtiar

CI/DS(SMC), NIPA Peshawar

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 REASONS FOR RESUBMISSION

During the CIP presentation review on February 20 th, 2025 it was highlighted that statement
of problem and scope should be rewritten, it was advised to be limit the scope to one main
road only. Further it was advised to carryout detailed analysis of selected road such as
encroachment and illegal car parking etc. Amendment of conclusion and recommendation
parallel to the analysis was also recommended.

CURRENCY OF THE TOPIC

Peshawar is the capital city of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and is one of the main hubs for the
educational, industrial, public and private sectors. As the population of the city is growing
rapidly due to rapid migration of people from rural areas and other cities to get better
education and new job opportunities, it also had an effect on the current traffic related
problems (Farooq, 2021). To improve the current situation of transportation network and
mobility of people in the city the present provincial government planned to address the traffic
congestion in Peshawar City.

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 Figure 1 Meeting to address the traffic congestion in Peshawar City.

INTRODUCTION

Traffic Gridlock is a state of “complete jam” or “collapse of network” (Gayah & Daganzo,
2011). Due to global Phenomena traffic congestion has become a growing problem (Kerner,
2011). Widely occurring during the peak hours of 8 to 9 AM and 4 to 5 PM (Berisha, 2016).
The phrase "alleviating traffic gridlock" refers to easing the severe traffic congestion that
paralyzes the city roads (Franco, 2023).

Peshawar is the capital city of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. It is the largest city of Khyber-

Pakhtunkhwa population wise and the sixth largest city in Pakistan. The current population of
Peshawar as per 2023 census exceeding 4.7 million (Bureau 2025, n.d.). Peshawar is the
oldest city in the whole South Asia and was once the main trading route through the famous
Khyber Pass connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan. Traffic congestion in Peshawar has
become a major issue besides the ill planned traffic system, various other elements are
contributing towards it such as inappropriate car parking due to unavailability of parking lots,
road side encroachments and about increase in private cars in about a decade. Usage of too
many Rikshaws in the city most often had made traffic jams and caused accidents. It is
estimated that only 30,149 out of 85,000 rickshaws are registered in the transport department.
Such amount of usage is a main factor of environmental pollution in the region as well
(Saeed, 2025).

Peshawar also had an effect on traffic jams to some extent as the law enforcement agencies
made blockade and check posts on various locations of the main route of Peshawar. The
location of buildings such as Provincial Assembly KP, Peshawar High Court and Sarena

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Hotel resides on the single route of GT Road. And the traffic is usually jammed due to arrival
of government official cars.

In the past few years an increase in the usage of private cars had been seen in Peshawar but
the percentage of people using public transport is still high though. According to a survey
conducted by the Town Municipality Peshawar in 2012, provided data that 66 % individuals
in the city utilizes Public transportation for their everyday portability. The remaining 25%
uses private cars and the 9% use other services such as taxi, rickshaw etc. (Farooq, 2021)
Therefore, the city needs a special focus and attention for the improvement of transport
system in the city to avoid alleviation of gridlock which is a routine on daily basis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

It is a well-established fact that in Peshawar city the road users are constantly increasing
causing severe traffic congestion and associated problems, therefore, it is essentially required
to find the root causes of these problems and set out short, medium and long-term strategies
in the post-BRT construction scenario, a lack of alternate routes, and the clustering of key
public and private buildings along major roads

However, weak traffic law enforcement has further worsened the traffic gridlock,
exacerbating congestion. The integrated Traffic Management for the city of Peshawar is
essentially required for addressing the traffic congestion and associated issues continuously
facing by the people of Peshawar city

Therefore, this study will analyze the current state of traffic law enforcement on GT Road,
Peshawar’s main artery, and proposes creative solutions and strategic planning for stricter
enforcement to enhance traffic flow in city.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study will focus on addressing the traffic gridlock on GT Road, Peshawar, as there are
three main areas of the traffic gridlock issue i.e. Engineering, Enforcement and Education but
this CIP will focus only law enforcement issues such as major congestion points, illegal
parking, and roadside encroachments for alleviating traffic gridlock and will provide
actionable suggestions to improve mobility and ease traffic congestions.

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 METHODOLOGY

This CIP employs a descriptive analysis based on secondary data to explore the challenges of
traffic congestion regarding GT road, Peshawar. The data sources include official documents,
newspapers, articles, studies, and reports. CIP will also employ informal interviews from the
officials of UPU and PDA.

SITUATION ANALYSIS

Peshawar, the capital and one of the oldest cities in South Asia, as per Excise & Transport
Department there are one million (approx.) vehicles within the city. Other than that there are
481,755 motor cycles (60% unregistered), 21,722 (15,000 without permit) taxis 1,101
ambulances and 10,500 qinqi. It has experienced rapid urbanization; however,
the absence of systematic urban planning has played a major role in traffic congestion. The
inability of authorities to adopt effective planning strategies for new development and
infrastructure construction has worsened in major commercial zones.
Markets significantly impacted by traffic congestion, causing residents and businesses
economic, environmental, and social problems (Umair E. M., 2020).

Figure 03 Road Map of Peshawar

Source: Directorate of Transport Department KP

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The city's main road network must be understood before one can examine the problems
caused by traffic congestion.

I. Grand Trunk (GT) Road: Serving as the city's main artery, GT Road links Peshawar
from east to west.
II. Ring Road: This 35-kilometer circular roadway connects several suburbs and eases
urban congestion by rerouting heavy traffic away from key areas.
III. University Road: University Road connects the University of Peshawar, residential
areas, and business zones. It is a major artery that runs parallel to GT Road and is an
essential east-west link in the city.
IV. Jamrud Road: This vital route, which runs west from the city center towards the
Khyber Pass, connects Peshawar to Afghanistan and the tribal areas
V. Kohat Road: is a vital road for intra-provincial transport, leading south from the city
and connecting Peshawar to Kohat and other southern areas.
VI. Warsak Road: This road connects residential neighborhoods with the city center and
leads north from the city to outlying areas and the Warsak Dam (Traffic Management
Plan for Peshawar City Draft Final Report, n.d.).

These roads are essential for daily commuting, commercial activities, and managing traffic
flow within Peshawar.

Figure 02. Bar chart showing traffic in and out of Peshawar

Source: Transport Department KP

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Peshawar’s road network has sufficient capacity to accommodate traffic; however, congestion
persists due to various underlying issues. The primary causes of traffic congestion in the city
and specially GT road include:
I. Infrastructure-related issues – Poor road design and lane reductions lead to
bottlenecks.

II. Weak traffic Laws Enforcement – Lack of strict implementation of rules exacerbates
violations.
III. Improper traffic management – Inefficient signal control, illegal parking, and
encroachments contribute to congestion (Umair E. M., 2020).

Current Demand and Road Capacity

An assessment by urban policy unit of existing road conditions and traffic demand shows that
most roads operate within their capacity. The volume-to-capacity (V/C) ratio for key
corridors, such as Chamakani Road and Jamrud Road, remains within acceptable limits,
indicating that the roads should be able to accommodate current traffic loads. However,
congestion occurs due to poor traffic discipline and external factors rather than capacity
constraints.

Table 01. Volume-to-capacity (V/C) ratio for key corridors

Current Demand with Existing Geometry -
Road
Cordon Existing Peak Hour
Direction Duration Capacity V/C
Point No. of Volume LOS
(pcu/hr) Ratio
Lanes V
C
AM 3 4800 2316 0.48 A
Inflow
Chamkani PM 3 4800 2309 0.48 A
Road AM 3 4800 2576 0.54 A
Outflow
PM 3 4800 2819 0.59 A
AM 2 3200 1423 0.44 A
Inflow
PM 2 3200 1485 0.46 A
Jamrud Road
AM 2 3200 1844 0.58 A
Outflow
PM 2 3200 1966 0.61 A

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 Source: Urban Planning Unit, KP

Identified Choke Points and Bottlenecks

Several locations in Peshawar experience severe congestion due to a combination of poor

infrastructure, illegal parking, and inefficient traffic flow (PDA, 2025). Key bottlenecks
include:
1. Hayatabad Phase-III Chowk – Lane reduction due to the Bab-e-Peshawar flyover,
causing daily congestion.

2. Board Bazaar and BRT Bus Stop – Illegal taxi and rickshaw stands obstructing
smooth traffic flow.

3. Peshawar University Gate – Merging of traffic from university roads leading to

congestion during peak hours.

4. Iqra Chowk and Spin Jumat – Illegal parking and poor enforcement worsening peak-
hour delays.

5. Warsak Road & GT Road Junction – Diversion of school buses and incomplete ring
road sections creating congestion.

6. Pir Zakori Bridge – Heavy truck movement and manual intersection control causing
delays.

Figure 04 BRT bottle Neck and Illegal parking

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 Parking Survey and Illegally Parked Vehicles

A survey on illegally parked vehicles in Peshawar highlights that roadside parking is a major
contributor to congestion, especially in commercial areas. Some of the most affected
locations include:
 Assembly Hall-Jail Road (89%)

 BRT Station-Hashtnagri (52%)

 Mission Hospital-Dabgari Gate (67%)

 Saddar-Board Bazaar (82%)

 Malago-Enderole (30%)

 Chungi Chowk-Kohat Road (43%)

This data suggests an urgent need for designated parking spaces and stricter enforcement of
parking regulations.

Figure 05 Volume of illegally parked vehicles at different roads

Source: Urban Planning Unit, KP

Encroachment

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Encroachment refers to the illegal usage of resources (Chauhan, Varshney, & Saraswat,
2017). It is occupying of lands or highways and illegal use of government or private
land/footpaths. Encroachment on roads and footpaths is another big cause of traffic gridlock
(Chauhan, Varshney, & Saraswat, 2017). Types of encroachments includes unauthorized
construction on the roads, parking and auto stands, encroachment by shopkeepers, hand carts,
hawkers and vendors (Chauhan, Varshney, & Saraswat, 2017).
Ways Other Cities Alleviating Traffic Gridlock

Stockholm electronic road pricing scheme: charges private cars for entering the central city
on weekdays between 06:30 and 18:30, with exemptions for buses, taxis, eco-fuel cars, and
emergency vehicles. Within the first two years, peak-period traffic volumes in the tolling
zone decreased by 25%, effectively removing one million vehicles from the road daily. As a
result, daily toll revenue has also increased (Franco, 2023).

London’s online journey planner: provides instant route advice in the UK capital, allowing
users to choose alternate routes in case of traffic congestion. Additionally, it offers real-time
traffic monitoring and multiple modes of transport (Kaleta, 2012).

CONCLUSION

Based on the analysis, the primary factors contributing to traffic congestion in Peshawar
include weak enforcement of traffic laws, illegal parking, and poor infrastructure planning.
Despite roads having adequate capacity, inefficiencies in traffic management result in
frequent bottlenecks and delays. Key takeaways include:
 GT Road has an acceptable Level of Service (LOS A), meaning it can handle current
traffic loads efficiently.

 Weak law enforcement is a major cause of congestion.

 Lack of driver awareness and education leads to reckless road behavior.

 Insufficient infrastructure, such as parking plazas and footpaths, worsens congestion.

 High-traffic areas require better traffic management strategies and staff reinforcement.

 Illegal taxi and rickshaw stands contribute significantly to travel delays.

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 SOLUTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS

Short-Term Measures:

 Fines for violations, especially for wrong parking near Abdara Road (Traffic Police
enforcement).

 Encroachments removal by the administration (TMA, PDA).

 Media engagement campaigns through TV, radio, and social media to raise awareness.

Medium-Term Measures:

 Congestion Pricing – Implement entry fees for high-traffic zones during peak hours to
discourage unnecessary vehicle use (Transport Department, Traffic Police).

 Closure of Illegal Entrances and Exits near the General Bus Stand (PDA intervention).

Long-Term Measures:

 Completion of the Ring Road missing link (Provincial Government/PDA).

 Construction of multi-story parking plazas, similar to Namak Mandi’s structure (PDA

initiative).

 Installation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)-based Traffic Signals, especially on

Pir Zakori Flyover (Provincial Government/PDA).

By implementing these recommendations, traffic congestion in Peshawar can be significantly

reduced, leading to smoother mobility, better enforcement, and improved urban transport
efficiency.

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 REFERENCES

Berisha, B. (2016). Alleviating Traffic Congestion in Prishtina. Retrieved from

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Bureau 2025, P. S. (n.d.). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved from

https://www.pbs.gov.pk/

Chauhan, G. S., Varshney, P., & Saraswat, A. (2017, April). Reducing Encroachment
Problems on Roads to Reduce Traffic Congestion instead of Widening the Road.
International Journal on Emerging Technologies. Retrieved from
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Farooq, A. (2021). An Integrated Multicriteria Decision-Making Approach to Evaluate

Traveler Modes’ Priority: An Application to Peshawar, Pakistan. 17.

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Kerner, B. S. (2011, October 20). Physics of traffic gridlock in a city. Retrieved from
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KP, G. o. (2022). Urban Policy Unit Peshawar. Retrieved from

https://urbanpolicyunit.gkp.pk/sectors/

Saeed, T. U. (2025, Feburary ). Data from Transport Department of KP.

Umair , M., & Farooq, D. A. (2020). An Analysis of Peshawar (Pakistan) Traffic Issues Its
Causes, Effects and A Strategic Plan to Resolve It.

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Umair, E. M. (2020, June). An Analysis of Peshawar (Pakistan) Traffic Issues its Causes,
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