LAHORE: Traffic snarl-ups on city’s main roads such as The Mall, Canal Road, Jail Road and Davies Road proved nightmarish for motorists in the last two days.

There were reports that countless people including families got stuck in the bumper-to-bumper traffic jams. The situation was unbearable on The Mall where, reports say, the wardens were found missing from duties.

The motorists had to wait for hours to move out of the mess and those who tried to use alternative roads also got stuck in the streets and residential areas.

The tremendous pressure increased during schools’ closing times as the children on school vans were among those who spent hours on the roads.

Eyewitnesses said many ambulances also got stuck in the traffic jams. On some sections of The Mall, they said, people stopped their cars to wait for a ‘miracle’ when they found no warden to rescue them.

Some people said traffic jams had become a routine in the city as wardens had failed to prove equal to the task. They said the situation had been worsened in the recent times due to the launch of projects such as Gulab Devi underpass and Johar Town road widening.

The thoroughfares including Canal Road, Ferozepur Road and The Mall got clogged especially during school closing times, they said.

They have demanded that the government take notice of the plight of the road users and ensure smooth movement of traffic besides taking action against the incompetent traffic wardens.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2021