LAHORE: In a bid to control the increasing traffic load, congestion, environment pollution and ease the public mobility in Lahore, the district & divisional administration, metropolitan corporation and police have launched a joint anti-encroachment operation.

“A grand operation has been launched vigorously in all parts of the city, especially those facing severe public mobility issues due to traffic congestion. Twenty-eight teams, comprising officers/officials representing the offices of commissioner and deputy commissioner, town municipal or zonal administrations and police, have launched the operation,” an official source told Dawn on Saturday.

“The teams are removing all permanent and temporary encroachments, including the extended shades and floors, walls, carts, wheelbarrows, illegal wagon stands and parking lots and structures,” he added.

On the other hand, Lahore Commissioner retired Capt Muhammad Usman, CCPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana and DC Umar Sher Chatha visited various parts of the city to review the operation. They officers started the visit from Bhati Gate till Dehli Gate on the Circular Road and monitored the anti-encroachment operation, traffic flow, cleanliness and elimination of illegal parking.

The officers also reviewed a proposal for a parking plaza at Delhi Gate Tonga Stand.

Speaking on the occasion, CCPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana termed the encroachments hindrance to the traffic flow and a security risk, which could not be completely eradicated without cooperation of the citizens and business community. He said efforts were being made to build parking plazas at the available spaces to avoid parking problems in the future.

He said the Lahore Police along with district administration and other civic agencies were mobilised to ensure the smooth flow of traffic on the roads and eliminate encroachments.

Earlier, DC Chatha apprised the commissioner and the CCPO of the objectives of the anti-encroachment campaign and the action taken to clear the roads, particularly the Circular Road, of encroachments.

The officers also inspected the traffic flow, encroachments and parking areas at various places, including Urdu Bazaar Chowk, Mochi Gate, Delhi Gate Chowk and other traffic junctions.

“Severe traffic congestions and increase in encroachments in densely populated areas is a common problem. The business community must keep parking options in mind in the construction of commercial plazas,” the CCPO said.

He added that police were providing security to the anti-encroachment squads during the crackdown.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2022