SHEIKHUPURA, Feb 24: A number of transporters, commuters and residents of area on the Lahore-Jaranwala Road have protested against the deteriorated condition of the main road and held the highway department responsible for negligence in this regard.

The passage from Begumkot to Bucheky, particularly near Burj Atari and Sabeel stop overs, has become almost impassable. The protesters said the situation had been persisting for the last several years.

The area people told this correspondent that they met the high-ups of the highway department in Sheikhupura and Lahore to get the road repaired, but the officials concerned did not bother to redress this grievance.

They alleged that the department authorities had embezzled the amount allocated for the repair of the road on which not a penny had been spent for long. The protesting people demanded Governor Khalid Maqbool, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and other authorities concerned to initiate an inquiry into embezzlement of funds by the highway department.

They also urged that the road be repaired at the earliest. Transporters association president Mian Liaquat told this correspondent that they were compelled to stop plying their vehicles on this road due to its bad condition.