Restriction movement of pragia to CBD commerce today, July, 24.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has today issued a roadmap to restrict tricycle movement into the Central Business District (CBD) which has taken effect today July, 24 after stakeholders’ consultation.

This directive has been initiated for the second time after the Assembly halted the implementation without stakeholders’ consultation.

Speaking to the department head of transport at the Assembly Mr Willson Randy says the restriction is not mainly for tricycles but also applies to transport operators who operate, illegal stations, on street stations drivers in front of Unicorn House, and on day-time cargo movement which causes nuisance traffic within the CBD.

The General Assembly resolved at its meeting on 29th April to take steps to restrict the activities of tricycles (Pragia/Aboboyaa/Adedeta) within the core of the CBD. This is to ensure that the growing menace is curtailed before it can escalate into a situation where every available space within sections of the CBD will be turned into a station or loading point for ‘pragia’.

“The On-street stations used for intra-city activities in the city have been growing contrary to decisions that were made for them to operate in the city. Most of the stations have increased the number of slots allocated to them, others have introduced additional routes into their operations whilst almost all of them have reneged on their mandates to keep their allocated slots ‘congestion-free and clean’.

“Cargo vehicles, as per the bye-laws of KMA are not supposed to off-load their goods in the CBD between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. They are also not expected to park within sections of the CBD. However, the situation has become worse as they seem to operate throughout the day and park anywhere creating congestion.

“Illegal loading of, especially, long-distance vehicles has become a major troubling issue on the successful operation of transport activities within the city. Places like Central Market, Pampaso, KATH roundabout, Suame roundabout etc have become major points where these illegal long-distance activities are thriving.

“This has resulted in the city not being able to carry out most of the activities like allocation of slots, decisions on new stations, enforcement activities etc. It has also not made it easy for the issuance of permits and stickers to the unions which in one way or the other support their operations and limit illegality”.

He added the directives begin today but the enforcement will be effective next week Monday spearheaded by the police service on the various route leading to the CBD as stated.

According to him, this operation will ensure that the growing menace is curtailed before it escalates into a situation where every available space within the sections of the CBD is turned into a station or loading point for ‘Pragia’.

He said any tricycle that will be impounded by the police without compliance will attract a fine.

The Assembly will continue to embark on sensitization exercises to educate the tricycle operators, transport unions and the public to adhere to the directives.

By Enock Baffoe/uniquenewsgh.com