akistan is experiencing an exponential population growth. Due in part to the growing population, most cities are expanding physically on a daily basis. Then there are people migrating to cities from rural areas in search of better livelihood opportunities.

As cities expand, the citizens are forced to commute long distances within the cities to reach their workplaces. The situation is particularly challenging in metropolitan cities, where commuting time is a significant fraction of one’s time. In some cases it is as much as three to four hours a day for five to six days a week.

Besides walking to work, people use motorcycles, wagons, buses and cars, mostly depending on their disposable incomes. As travel increases, daily fuel consumption also increases. A recent survey indicates that the fuel oil import bill rose to $17.03 billion in July-April 2022 compared to $8.69 billion during the same period last year. This is an increase of 95 percent.

Our fuel import bill is one of largest burdens on our fragile economy. As more and more vehicles flood our roads, the fuel import bill is expected to keep increasing in the near future. The urban roads are too congested in many cases not to have high pollution levels. This is particularly true in metropolitan cities. Managing the traffic in these cities is becoming a challenge.

The number of vehicles registered in the Punjab increased from 5 million in 2007 to 16.1 million in 2017. The influx of vehicles is outpacing the population growth and harming the climate. No doubt, the US Air Quality Index has declared Lahore as one of the “most polluted cities” in the world.

The relevant departments have several options to improve the situation. The steps taken so far are insufficient. To start with, office and school timings should be managed in such a way that excessive traffic loads are avoided. Staggering of timings can lessen the burden on roads and reduce air pollution.

Secondly, lack of quality public transport forces many people to acquire and use private vehicles. Daewoo buses were introduced once and proved a popular way of travelling. Right now, we have Metro, Orange train and Speedo buses in Lahore. However, Metro and Orange Train are not suitable for everyone. They are available only to people travelling along certain routes.

The relevant departments have several options to improve the situation. The steps taken so far are clearly insufficient. To start with, office and school timings should be managed in such a way that excessive traffic load is avoided.

The government should launch special campaigns to change the passenger behaviour. It should also improve the quality of intercity public transport. According to a study, in Karachi, an average of 45 passengers per bus are carried beyond its design load. Most of the passengers don’t get to sit, especially during rush hours (8am to 9:30am and 5pm to 7pm). They are forced to stand, cling on to the doors or ride on the roof.

During the Covid-19 pandemic the mankind learnt new ways of surviving and working. We found that a lot of work can be done remotely, using IT-based solutions. Covid-19 also introduced a lot of people to virtual meetings. This should be encouraged and facilitated as a policy.

Another approach to traffic management is detouring. Where traffic jams, construction activity, processions, strikes or public gatherings clog certain roads and streets, apps like Raasta, developed by the Punjab Police & Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), can be used to go around bottlenecks.

Google Maps is a lot of help. It is unfortunate that many commuters and drivers are not aware of these options. Where diversions are necessary, huge boards should indicate that. This practice is almost nonexistent.

If measures are taken on these lines, many traffic jams can be avoided and the public spared a lot of hassle and mental pressures.

City plans should be displayed at all major entrances to the cities. These should be available in print as well as electronically.

It can be argued that Google Maps has made these redundant. However, the large illiterate population still needs such helps.

An important omission is the missing sign boards. Sign boards are a great help for everyone; for new comers, they are life-savers. They save a lot of time and much hassle.

Another means of traffic is redesigning of chowks etc. Intersections and interchanges are a very important part of traffic management. Recently in Lahore, Allah Hoo Chowk in Johar Town has been made signal-free. This is saving citizens a lot of hassle by improving the traffic flow.

Thokar Niaz Baig in Lahore needs drastic changes to remove the bottlenecks at one of the major entry points of the provincial capital. There is a need also for an underpass connecting the Canal Road with the Multan Road and Raiwind Road to improve traffic flow in the area. A police checkpost at Thokar Niaz Baig and a large number of housing societies on the Canal Road and Multan Road are a major cause of regular traffic jams in the vicinity.

There is also a great need for awareness of traffic rules and good practices among citizens. Unfortunately, this is not something taught as a part of curriculum in our schools. In developed societies everyone understands and follows traffic rules like keeping in a lane and giving way to emergency vehicles.

The writer is a civil engineer by profession