03 March 2006
Sharjah: Normally it should take five minutes for a Sharjah resident living in industrial area one to reach his workplace in Ghusais, Dubai.
But every day hundreds of motorists spend more than 90 minutes just reaching the Al Nahda Square approaching either from Al Khan Street or the First Industrial Road.
Accidents are common here every day as the stress level of motorists go up right from 6.30 in the morning. "There are two or three accidents every week," says Fareed Khan, a garage mechanic whose workshop is just near the square.
The industrial area is one of the most densely populated areas of Sharjah as rents are cheap here. Mahmoud K.P. pays Dh18,000 per year for a one bedroom flat in the first industrial area. He said on Thursdays it takes him five minutes to reach his workplace in Ghusais. On weekdays the commute is torturous as most of the motorists head for Dubai. "You move inch by inch," he says.
A taxi driver said the situation was similar at the Sharjah Gate Square before it was turned into a four leaf clover bridge. Despite the ban on the heavy trailer trucks from Port Khalid during the morning rush hour, the queue of cars stretches for more than a kilometre, says Mohammad Nawaz, taxi driver.
He said passengers usually grumble as they have to pay about Dh22 for a short trip from here to the National Paints roundabout.
A car spare parts salesman said it is equally bad between 7pm and 9pm when commuters return from Dubai or the other industrial areas.
"Sometimes the police come and direct the traffic," said Zainul Imam. But most of the days the motorists are left to their own chaotic devices as there is only a flashing traffic light here.
The Public Works department plans to demolish the roundabouts to keep pace with the growing traffic. An official of the Sharjah Tourism Authority said the government is committed to spending Dh2 billion for road infrastructure projects. He acknowledged that the traffic jams have had an impact but noted that the opening of the Ring Road had eased the traffic a bit.
By Mahmood Saberi
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
