Keeping order: Kpl Senin Md Nor of the South Klang police traffic department directing traffic in Tanjong Karang. (Right) Cars moving slowly through the town heading towards Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA SELANGOR: Massive traffic jams were reported along major highways as people made their way back to the city centre after the Aidiladha holiday.
Traffic was crawling bumper-to-bumper along several parts of the North-South Expressway and Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway.
On southern routes towards Klang Valley, a spokesman from the PLUS Traffic Monitoring Centre said traffic was backed up from Seberang Jaya towards Bukit Tambun in Penang, and Changkat Jering heading south towards the Menora tunnel and Simpang Pulai to Tapah.
Slow traffic was also reported at the Sungai Perak, Bukit Gantang and Tapah rest and service areas on the south-bound side of the north-south expressway. In northern routes to the city centre, PLUS reported slow traffic from Jasin, Malacca towards Ayer Keroh, Pedas Linggi to Nilai and Air Hitam to Machap.
Meanwhile, the usually quiet town of Tanjong Karang has been inundated with traffic over the last two days of this holiday.
The crawl through the town along Jalan Sungai Kajang Lama stretched all the way to Sekinchan.
In response, the Selangor traffic police organised a 30-man task force for Ops Lancar, aimed at alleviating the traffic situation here.
Its chief Deputy Supt Azmin Mansor said the operation was launched last year after observing heavy traffic in Tanjong Karang during holidays.
“Most people visiting relatives up north would take the coastal route and pass through the town on the way back to the city centre to avoid tolls.
“As the town has narrower roads and many traffic lights, congestion during the rush back to the city is unavoidable,” said DSP Azmin.
He added, however, that the state traffic police were confident in effectively managing the traffic flow.
“We have officers from every Selangor district working round the clock in managing the jam, to ensure motorists have a smooth and safe drive home,” he said.
Kuala Selangor resident Jamalullail Juhari, 20, said the traffic police's operation was much-needed help.
“I thank PDRM for their effort as this problem always occur here during the holiday seasons,” he said.
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