Police failed on Thursday to honour its commitment regarding the efficient management of traffic on the eve of the urs of Data Sahib as roads leading to the shrine were completely clogged with traffic.
Long queues of cars were also seen in the vicinity of the City railway station, Aik Moria Pul, Do Moria Pul and the Chauburji chowk. Ali Khan, one of the drivers, said police had failed to live up to its promise of maintaining a smooth flow of traffic. He said he had been stuck in traffic for over 90 minutes.
CTO Tayyab Hafeez Cheema had earlier said on Thursday that police had finalised a traffic plan for the chehlum of Imam Hussain (RA) and the urs of Data Sahib. He said two SPs, eight DSPs, 27 inspectors, 18 patrolling officials and 705 wardens had been tasked with maintaining the smooth flow of traffic. Cheema said six fork-lifters and fork-lifters would also be deployed in this regard. He said alterative routes for the convenience of citizens had been finalised.
He said traffic entering Lahore from Shahdara area be routed to the Railway Station via the Azadi Chowk or proceed to their destinations via the Niaz Chowk and the Bund Road. Cheema said traffic going to the Chauburji chowk would be diverted to the Sanda Road from the MAO College Chowk and heavy traffic from Kahna area and Kasur would be diverted to the Chauburji chowk. He said the Lower Mall would remain closed for traffic and five parking lots had been reserved for vehicles.
Umar Ali, one of the devotees thronging the shrine of Data Sahib, told The Express Tribune that space had been only reserved for vehicles belonging to VVIPs paying obeisance at the shrine.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2014.
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