End-of-Day Traffic Congestion in Kabul Turns Daily Commute Into a Time-Consuming Struggle
As the workday draws to a close, instead of calming down, Kabul experiences a significant increase in traffic congestion on roads and at bus stations, making daily commuting a time-consuming challenge for thousands of residents.
City dwellers report that the closure of certain roads, ongoing street repairs, a shortage of city vehicles, and the rise of hand-pulled carts along the roads have extended travel times from work to home to several hours. They say the number of city vehicles is insufficient to meet demand, and taxi fares are unaffordable for many families.
This issue is not limited to one or two districts; nearly all parts of Kabul, especially during the end of working hours, see crowded stations and severe traffic slowdowns, putting immense pressure on the city’s mobility.
Meanwhile, the Kabul Traffic Department states that this congestion is not a new phenomenon and typically intensifies each year as working hours shorten during the winter season. The department emphasizes that the problem is temporary and that efforts are underway, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport and Kabul Municipality, to reduce the traffic congestion.
On the other hand, Kabul Municipality points to the increase in hand-pulled carts as a factor causing urban disorder and disrupting vehicle movement. According to the municipality, plans are in place to establish designated selling areas in the first and second districts and several other locations across the city.
However, the population growth in Kabul and the lack of a sustainable and responsive urban transportation plan have heightened criticism of the Taliban administration’s management of city services. Residents stress that temporary solutions are inadequate and that practical, long-term planning is essential to improve transportation and urban order.
