Traffic department ‘working to ease Ramadan congestion’

AMMAN — With the start of the month of Ramadan traffic jams in Amman have increased in intensity, prompting the traffic department to implement a number of measures to curb congestion in the capital. 

“Traffic jams are expected at several times throughout the day, starting at the beginning of the working day,” said Col. Bassem Kharabsheh, Amman Traffic Department director.

Government working hours during Ramadan are from 10am to 3pm.

Heavy traffic is also expected before the fast-breaking iftar meal at sunset, as people rush to buy food and sweets, in addition to a large number of people going to mosques, he told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

In previous remarks to The Jordan Times, Kharabsheh said over 400,000 additional vehicles are expected on Amman’s roads during the summer, including the fasting month and the feast that follows it, Eid Al Fitr. 

The traffic department will focus on the last 10 days of Ramadan, when people shop in preparation for Eid Al Fitr, he said. 

“We will issue traffic tickets to violators, and if they do not abide by the law, we will tow away their vehicles,” he added. 

Ayman Smadi, the executive director of the transport and traffic department at the Greater Amman Municipality, said in a previous interview with The Jordan Times that the municipality has started installing new traffic lights in Amman, targeting the most congested areas like Sweileh, Istiqlal Street, the Interior Ministry Circle and Shmeisani.