Hours-long gridlock witnessed around Raiwind

Despite traffic police’s diversion plan, huge queues of vehicles were witnessed after congregation ended.

LAHORE: Huge traffic mess occurred despite the fact that the city traffic police had made comprehensive plan to divert traffic after the first phase of Tableeghi Jamaat’s Ijtama (religious congregation) which concluded on Sunday.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees participated in the event from across Pakistan. Religious scholars delivered sermons and speeches about teachings of Islam. The congregation had started on Thursday after Asar prayer and concluded after prayer by Tableeghi Jamaat’s spiritual leader Haji Abdul Wahab. Second phase of Tableeghi Jamaat Ijtama will start on Thursday and will conclude on Sunday (November 12).



Long queues of vehicles were seen on Multan and Raiwind Road as the participants of the congregation left the venue ie Raiwind.

Chief Traffic Police Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmad himself went to the spot to monitor and maintain the flow of traffic. City Traffic Police diverted traffic leading to Raiwind from Thokar Niaz and used both lanes of all the roads, Raiwind Road Pajjian Mor to Thokar Naiz Beg, Bhombtian Chowk to Mohlanwal, Raiwind-Sundar Road, Raiwind Manga Road, Kot Radha Kishan Road and Sui Hasal Road, for exit of the religious devotees.

Parking was allowed only at five points and wrong parking was immediately removed.



The commuters wishing to enter Lahore from Raiwind were allowed entry using route from Ferozpur Road to Lalliyani Road, Chungi Amar Sadhu to Chandrai, Gawala Colony to Jodha Railway Crossing, Madr-e-Millat Road, Thaitha Railway Crossing, Kacha Railway Crossing to Jodha Phattak.

It took over four to five hours for city traffic police to clear roads of traffic congestion.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2017.