LAHORE, Feb 7: Against public perception of inefficient road network in the city resulting in long queues of vehicles and traffic jams, especially during peak hours , authorities claim that it is capable enough to cater to traffic load double than the present one.

However, they say that the problems of undisciplined driving, slow-moving vehicles, poor infrastructure due to lack of resources and the likes are eating out most of this capacity.

Asked if 70 per cent increase in vehicles' registration this year, as claimed by district Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood, was the major reason for traffic mess in the city, Traffic Engineering and Planning Authority (TEPA) chief engineer Khushhal Khan says, "No".

Most of the traffic mess these days is due to construction work on roads going on in various parts of the city, he says.

The canal bank road is closed from The Mall and onward as an underpass is being constructed at the Dharampura crossing while parts of the Ravi bridge and Bund Road are affected due to construction of the Ring Road.

Asked if extraordinary measures like banning right turns or prohibiting plying of vehicles with odd or even registration numbers on alternate days were needed to overcome the problem, the situation was not that much serious.

"However, we cannot altogether say that it is not a problem. Traffic management is really becoming a challenge."

The first step to set the things right is banning plying of slow-moving vehicles, Mr Khan says. Creating awareness among the people about the need for disciplined traffic comes next, he adds.

Drivers of public and private vehicles would park their motors wrong and some even start conversing with each other in the middle of the road, he complains. Rehriwalas selling fruits along various roads aggravate the situation by occupying one lane of the road.

About traffic jams on the canal road despite construction of a number of underpasses and removal of all "unwanted" bridges, Mr Khan says being a two-lane road the problem lies with non-provision of bus bays and a separate lane for motorcyclists and cyclists.

One lane is occupied by two-wheelers while stoppage of buses for picking or dropping passengers on the same lane further obstructs free flow of traffic on the road.

TEPA chief engineer says acquisition of land for widening of roads is difficult as it requires huge funds and efficiency of incumbent resources should instead be enhanced.

Vehicle-sensitive sensors have been installed at some places as a step in this regard.

Mr Khan suggests that for better traffic management the approach should be facilitating maximum passengers and not maximum vehicles, encouraging use of public buses.