LAHORE: The traffic situation in the city is deteriorating by the day despite repeated warnings of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to the senior command of the traffic police to regulate traffic while police high-ups have shifted the entire focus to generate revenue, particularly, targeting the motorcyclists.

According to the reports, a major part of the provincial capital witnessed worst-ever recorded traffic on Monday, wreaking havoc for motorists as they remained stuck in the long queues all day.

The everyday traffic congestion and on bumper-to-bumper blockage on leading roads of the city has blatantly exposed the negligence and incompetence of the traffic police amid reports that these are one of the leading factors behind the rising smog levels in the city. The experts regard vehicle emissions as the primary contributor to air pollution and related adverse health impacts. They believe that Lahore’s frequent heavy traffic congestions produce more toxic emissions, leading to air quality issues.

The sources said that Maryam Nawaz has expressed her annoyance and displeasure three times in high profile meetings since assuming her office as the CM. They added that each time IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar and the Lahore Division commissioner came to rescue the city traffic police chief and other officials, borrowing more time to improve traffic situation of the city but the traffic police failed to bring about relief to the Lahorites so far.

The Punjab government will have to take a decisive decision to take action against the senior police officers as they are reportedly busy pushing the wardens to generate the maximum revenue by issuing heavy fines to the motorists but doing nothing else to improve the traffic situation on the roads.

There were reports of traffic jams on many roads of the provincial capital on Monday, creating widespread concerns among the citizens who lashed out at the Punjab government as they had to spend hours in traffic congestion on the roads. There were also complaints that slow moving traffic on the Ferozepur Road near the Model Town residence of the Sharif family caused a great deal of inconvenience for the motorists and several patients who were to reach Gulab Devi Hospital and Children Hospital got stuck.

“I am the owner of a gym in Gulberg, travelling from Iqbal Town daily to run my business. I notice that a majority of the traffic wardens would round up the motorists, particularly the motorcyclists, to issue them tickets rather than managing traffic, their prime responsibility,” said a citizen.

He said the wardens were seen making the motorcyclists wait for their turn to get the ticket of Rs2,000 fine, adding that the exchange of harsh words and brief scuffles between the traffic wardens and the motorcyclists had become the order of the day.

According to the disturbing reports emerged from various parts of the city, the worst traffic mess was witnessed on Gulberg’s Main Boulevard and its surrounding arteries, including MM Alam Road, Jail Road and The Mall Road, besides Davis Road, Babu Sabu, Ferozpur Road from Kalma Chowk to Mozang, Lakshmi Chowk and surroundings, all the small roads leading to the Lahore High Court and the Canal Road.

Since Lahore has several famous bazaars and markets and is known for their wide range of goods, from traditional clothing to shoes, jewellery etc, most of the roads leading to these shopping places remained choked all the day on Monday.

The reports suggested that a patch of the road leading from Kalma Chowk to Ichhra Bazaar was the troubling point for the motorists where the traffic would remain blocked all the day.

Similarly, bumper-to-bumper traffic congestion was witnessed on all the roads leading from Liberty Roundabout, Mini Market, Cavalry Ground, to and from Hussain Chowk. These localities are famous for being the hub of several shopping markets, plazas and bazaars including the Liberty Market and MM Alam Road.

The major road from the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital to the Jinnah Hospital Lahore, and a patch of the road from the said hospital to Garden Town remained almost blocked due to traffic jam. Those who tried to use the small arteries of nearby localities, including Model Town and Faisal Town, also faced troubles as they were already jam-packed.

The situation was equally disturbed and irritating for the motorists at the Babu Sabu and its surroundings, on Shalimar Link Road, Ghazi Road and in the surroundings of Lahore High Court due to traffic jams.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2024