Diversions and blockades: messy day for commuters

Citizens compelled to walk several kilometres to catch a bus or a van

LAHORE: Saturday proved another messy day for commuters on all the major roads of Lahore as they had to face a lot of trouble in reaching their destinations due to diversions and blockades set up as part of security arrangements of World-XI hockey team and gathering of a religio-political party in front of Data Darbar.

The day was harder for those travelling in or out of the city through public transport. They had to literally walk for kilometres to catch a passenger bus or a van.

Police had blocked all roads leading towards Data Darbar from Azadi Flyover, Urdu Bazar and Katchery. Diversions on Mall Road, where the international players were staying, were also set. Mall Road is one of the main arteries of the city while Lower Mall is an important exit and entry point of the city.

Jamshed Liaqat, a citizen, told The Express Tribune that he lived in Nankanah Sahib and had to go to Mall Road for a personal matter. He travels on public transport. During routine days, a passenger van dropped him at Lorry Ada or railway station or he used Metro Bus after entering the city for travel inside Lahore. On the day, the passenger van was not allowed to move further. It dropped him at Shahdara.

He had to face a lot of trouble as operation of Metro Bus was suspended and there was no public transport available. He had to walk to cross hurdles set up by police and find a public vehicle. The vehicle travelled few metres when it stopped due hurdles placed by the authorities. He had to walk again on foot to find another vehicle to travel further.

People facing problems due to containers placed around Data Darbar in the city. PHOTO: ONLINE

Similar apprehensions were shared by other commuters as well.

To deal with traffic mess, City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) claimed to have devised a comprehensive traffic plan. Under the plan, all traffic entering from Shahdara to Azadi Chowk was diverted to Railway Station. Traffic from Texali Chowk was diverted to Walled City and Mohni Road. Traffic from Civil Secretariat was diverted to Outfall Road and Ring-Road. Traffic from Circular Road and Shah Alam Chowk was diverted to Mayo Hospital, Nappier Road and Mall Road. CTPL asked commuters travelling from Defence and Cantonment to use Lahore Ring-Road for travel.

CTPL further said they have deployed 305 traffic wardens, 56 patrolling officers, 11 inspectors, six folk lifters, three break-downs under supervision of SP City Asif Siddique Khan for compliance with the plan.

DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf said as far as security arrangements were concerned, Lahore Police have devised a three-layered security plan. “Participants are allowed entry only after checking at three points ie physical search, checking with metal detectors and after passing through walk-through gates,” he said.

All the roads and streets leading towards the site were closed down using barbed wires, tents and barricades and armed police officials were deployed on duty.

Snipers were also deployed at nearby high-roofs for surveillance. He said CCTV cameras were also used for monitoring and surveillance. “Policemen in civvies are also deployed inside the gathering. Teams of Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit (PRU) are also patrolling near the area,” DIG Ashraf said.

The plan was devised during a meeting chaired by Capital City Police Officer Amin Wains at his office. DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf, DIG Security Moin Masood, DIG Investigations Chaudhry Sultan, SSP Operations Muntazir Mehdi, SP Security Ammara Athar, SP Anti-riot Muhammad Nadeem Khokhar and other officers were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2018.