Slow traffic at City’s entry, exit points thickening smog

LAHORE:The three major entry/exit points of the provincial capital are contributing heavily to generating of ‘fugitive dust’, which is a major component of the present smog.

The three major entry/exit points of the city include Thokar, Shahdara and Ferozepur Road from where hundreds and thousands of vehicles including heavy vehicles such as trucks, containers, tractor trollies and etc. enter and exit the city daily.

One can witness slow pace of work by Lahore Development Authority (LDA) at Thokar Entry/Exit point which has disturbed the normal flow of traffic, besides contributing more gases to the present smog.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Thokar Entry point is one of the main entry/exit points of the city where the road is uneven and small potholes slow down the traffic. Traffic jam at this point, especially in late hours when heavy traffic entered the city is a routine and is contributing a lot to the present situation of smog. Due to traffic jams at Thokar Entry point, other main roads linked to the Thokar Entry point - Multan Road, Raiwind Road, Canal Bank Road and local roads are also facing slow pace of traffic and jams.

Presently there is a line of six to seven kilometre comprising heavy vehicles, trucks, containers, busses and etc. can be seen at Thokar Entry point, which was also disturbing the normal flow of traffic. These trucks, containers and other heavy vehicles were stopped to enter the city on Saturday and Sunday by the traffic police.

One side of the road going towards M-2 and Multan is almost complete while the other side of the road coming from Multan to Lahore is still incomplete and under construction. LDA’s Engineering wing has yet to lay asphalt layer on this side while footpath is also incomplete. LDA sources said the project has exceeded its stipulated completion time due to the slow pace of work by the LDA’s contractor. The entry/exit point on Ferozpur road is undeveloped and despite the strict order of the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz the potholes and cracks in the main road are not filled or repaired.

At this point, the traffic coming from Kasur, Kahna and Ring Road joined and creates a mess. The side of the roads is not grassy due to which the fugitive dust adds to the atmosphere by the movement of heavy traffic. It is pertinent to mention here that the LDA’s most advertised and new project LDA City is also situated nearby. Similarly, the sides of the newly constructed Shahdara Bridge and the Bund Road Controlled Corridor are left undeveloped by the LDA’s engineering wing due to which the citizens are facing serious problems. Local residents and travelers have appealed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to visit these points and see the ground situation. When contacted, LDA’s spokesperson said LDA was developing the Thokar entry point but work was slow due to pressure of traffic. He said one side is completed while the other will be completed soon. Over Shahdara, he said the LDA completed its work and now it was the duty of PHA to make the site green.