LAHORE: Signboards of underpasses named after popular personalities on Canal Road have either been damaged or removed, causing problems for motorists to identify the locations and destinations. Roads on the entrances to some of these underpasses are also in a poor condition.

During a visit to Canal Road, the signboard of Waris Mir Underpass at Punjab University Campus intersection was found in a poor state. Similarly, signboards of Liaquat Ali Khan, Justice Cornelius and Waris Shah underpasses were also damaged, while boards over underpasses No 9 and 10 seemed to have been removed.

Earlier, various signboards had been smeared and replaced with new ones by the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (Tepa) in funding collaboration with the city district government.

On the other hand, damaged road stretches at the entrance to the Dharampura and Waris Shah (Jail Road) underpasses also reflect negligence of those responsible for repair and maintenance work.

Talking to Dawn, Tepa Chief Engineer Israr Saeed attributed the poor condition of signboards to either accidents caused by heavy vehicles attempting to enter or broken by unidentified people.

“There are various precedents during which heavy transport vehicles over 11.5 feet high tried to pass through these underpasses. The vehicles not only broke signboards but also damaged the structure besides being stuck there for hours leading to traffic blockade,” he explained.

He said in some cases it was also noted that hooligans either broke or removed signboards. He further said keeping in view the problem Tepa wrote a letter to the city district government demanding funds to replace the torn boards and affix new ones where the boards had been removed altogether. According to him, the City District Government of Lahore had approved a summary for funds.

Talking about remodeling and widening of various narrow underpasses on Canal Road, Saeed said the proposal to increase depth of all low underpasses to over 16 feet was under consideration. Some underpasses would also be widened and shifted along the canal bank on both sides.

He said flow of traffic and its regulation would have to be watched to avoid accidents. He also appealed to people to keep watching those damaging or removing signboards over underpasses and inform the department concerned.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2015

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