Police have announced a new operation dubbed ‘Operation Clear the Roads’ within the Greater Banjul Area. 

It said the exercise seeks to ensure that all objects that obstruct the free flow of traffic particularly during rush hours are cleared. 

In a statement the police said Physical Planning Department, one of its partners in the new operation, will verify boundaries for shop owners on the highways and anyone found to have encroached into the road will be removed with immediate effect.

“All wrongly parked vehicles, derelict vehicles, car tyres, vendors, stalls, building rubbles and other materials along the sides of the highways and roads, whether for private or commercial purposes, as well as shops encroaching into the highways and roads must be removed by owners with immediate effect. 

“The public is further informed that starting Monday 26th of July 2021 the police together with relevant partners will embark on the operation to clear the roads using towing vehicles to remove all vehicles wrongly parked along the roadsides. 

“Vehicle owners who fail to remove their vehicles will attract fines to regain their vehicles,” police said in a statement.

“For shop owners on the highways, Physical planning in consultation with relevant authorities will verify boundaries and if they are found to have encroached into the road, they will be removed with immediate effect. 

“In a bid to improve road safety and allow free flow of traffic, the Inspector General of Police urges all individuals to comply in clearing the roads of all obstacles causing traffic obstructions.”

“The cooperation of the public, particularly vehicle and business owners is highly solicited,” it added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba