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Broken roads & traffic jams A sophisticated two-row service road is under construction here along the well-kept GT Road passing through a prosperous locality. Similarly, roads in the posh Civil Lines have been rebuilt and footpaths constructed on both sides with coloured bricks. This has been done in preference to scores of city roads in use of the common people. At places, these roads give the look of a field ploughed by a tractor. Potholes, pits and ridges in them are a common sight. Vehicles plying on these roads undergo great wear and tear. But alas! there is no sign of undertaking repairs. Perhaps, total extinction of these roads is awaited to build them anew at a bigger cost instead of doing patchwork at a lower expenditure evidently for lucrative kickbacks. The administration, when questioned, promised to look into the problems of the citizens. ******** THE railway line running parallel to GT Road passes through Gujranwala city. A number of level crossings are provided all along the railway line. These present the worst possible scene of traffic jams. The crossings close and open dozens of times in a day with each passage of train. All sorts of vehicles crowd on the roads on both sides of the crossings. After the barrier is lifted, it takes 10-15 minutes for the traffic to pass through. Vehicles, especially motor bikes and rickshaws, keep emitting noise and smoke. Limited space permits passage at a snail’s pace. This scene is repeated many times daily but seldom any police is seen controlling traffic at these crossings. Presence of traffic police can help facilitate traffic on both sides to pass through on the opening of a crossing. These manned crossings close well in advance and traffic keeps accumulating for 15 to 20 minutes. An overhead bridge and an under-pass built at two separate sites brought no relief due to the rapid increase in population. Over the last decade, the people were appeased with different development packages but nothing material was done. The people now look to the district governments for evolving a permanent solution to the problem. ******** GUJRANWALA District Courts premises are visited by thousands of people every day. But there are no waiting rooms and urinals for the visitors, not even a place to drink plain tap water. Waiting sheds are now occupied by advocates. This is not all. In the recent past, some bureaucrats auctioned the contract for the cycle stand. It was said that the measure was taken for security reasons, but soon it became a menace for the public. The contractors employed free-booters and started exacting Rs5 per motor bike to permit entry from the gate. The gateman quarrels with those who cannot afford to pay. The contractor only wants money and lets the visitors park their vehicles wherever they like. Security is no more a consideration. The question arises why visitors to open courts are taxed in this manner to benefit a private contractor. People sometimes have to come and go for a number of times on one particular day. It is callous to charge them on each visit. Lawyers were also affected but they got an exemption subject to the condition that they affix a Bar sticker on their vehicles. No useful purpose is served by setting up a cycle stand. Better if the parking is free or the rate reduced to Rs1 to be collected by a court employee instead of a contractor. Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)
