FAISALABAD, Jan 2: Traffic blockade for hours at the Railway Station Chowk has become a routine due to the construction of a highly ill-designed replica of the Clock Tower in the middle of the intersection.

The railway station intersection is one of the busiest places in the city and it has only passage for the motorists of eastern part of the city to reach the motorway or the government offices.

It is also the central point for the traffic coming from the GTS intersection, Abdullahpur wagon stands and the General Bus Stand from the other side. But it has become a hell for motorists due to frequent snarls.

About one year ago, the Tehsil Municipal Administration (City) had declared it a prime spot for publicity and handed it over to a textile unit owned by Federal Textile Minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema, who is the brother of City Tehsil Nazim Mumtaz Ali Cheema.

The TMA granted permission to the textile unit to construct a replica of the famous Clock Tower and its eight bazaars. Thereafter, the unit erected the model without any proper planning and it not only disfigured the historical railway station building, but also became hazardous to the motorists.

The highway department officials at the time of its construction lodged a protest, but the officials at the helm used their influence in getting it completed. Residents of Faisalabad have demanded that Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi took cognizance of the situation and direct the authorities concerned to immediately remove the huge model.