Encroachment causing congestion on main roads in Lahore

Reportedly, speed of moving vehicles also reduced to slow pace due to these interventions in public spaces

LAHORE: The width of the main roads of the provincial capital is ‘sliced’ to lesser than half for use by commuters due to the ongoing encroachments and illegal parking. Reportedly, the speed of moving vehicles has also been reduced to a slow pace due to these interventions on major roads and other public spaces.

A City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) officer told The Express Tribune that all sectors marked ‘choke points’ of the city. “CTPL measured the width and speed when there was no encroachment, no illegal parking and then during peak hours.”

The figures were astonishing in a way that even those roads that were 50 feet wide fell into the category of ‘choke points’, he added. “Owing to illegal parking and encroachments, the width of certain roads was reduced to 15 feet or even lower.” Same was the case with the speed limit, he stressed.

For example, the route starting Lytton Road to Hamdard heading towards Qurtaba Chowk is one of the choke points. The width is 30 feet and there is no service road.  After the encroachment, the width is reduced to 20 feet and with the added trouble of illegal parking, it is further reduced to 17 feet. The speed limit decreases from 60 kilometres per hour to 40 kmh after encroachment.

Moreover, the route starting Ferozepur Road from Qurtaba chowk to LOS chowk also faces traffic congestion during peak hours. Its width is 40 feet and after encroachment, it is reduced to 30 feet while after parking it is reduced to 23 feet. The speed limit is reduced from 60 kmh to 40 kmh.

The route starting Katchery Road from GCU to Neela Gumband is 20 feet wide. After encroachment it is reduced to 14 feet and after parking, it is reduced to 10 feet. The speed limit is reduced from 40 kmh to 20 kmh.

The route starting Davis Road from Durand to Sundardas is 30 feet wide. After parking it is reduced to 20 feet and speed limit is reduced from 50 kmh to 30 kmh.

Similarly, the route starting Queen Marry College Road from Turn Taaj to Durand Road is 30 feet. After parking it is reduced to 10 feet. The speed limit is reduced from 45 kmh to 20 kmh.

In addition, the route starting Circular Road from Ada Crown to Akbari Gate is 80 feet with service road of 17.5 feet. After encroachments it is reduced to 50 feet and after parking to 30 feet. The speed limit is reduced from 50 kmh to 20 kmh.

Furthermore, the route starting Montgomery Road from Gulistan Chowk to Lahore Hotel is 19 feet wide. After encroachment it is recued to 13 feet and after parking further to seven feet side only. The speed limit is reduced from 30 kmh to 10 kmh.

On Lower Mall Road, the route from Civil Secretariat to PMG chowk is 24 feet wide and after parking it is reduced to 12 feet. The speed limit is reduced from 40 kmh to 20 kmh. Mauj Dariya Road from AG office to Jain Mandir is 16 feet wide. After encroachment it is reduced to 12 feet and after parking to eight feet. The speed limit is reduced from 50 kmh to 20 kmh.

The route starting Mozang Road from Mauj Dariya to Mozang Ada is 32 feet wide. After encroachment it is reduced to 24 feet and after parking it is reduced to 16 feet. The speed limit is reduced from 60 kmh to 20 kmh. The route starting Sabzi Mandi Road from Lorry Ada to Old Ravi Bridge is 45 feet wide. After encroachment it is reduced to 35 feet and after parking to 25 feet. The speed is reduced from 40 kmh to 20 kmh.

The route starting Circular Road from Urdu Bazar to Bhatti Chowk is 35 feet wide. After encroachment it is reduced to 25 feet and after parking to 15 feet. The speed limit is reduced from 50 kmh to 30 kmh. The officer added that a few stakeholders and communities were involved in these illegalities at the main choke points varying from lawyers, traders to media houses.

The officer maintained that CTPL as well City District Government would on and off keep on launching crackdowns against encroachments as well as illegal parking. “However, these are not the permanent solution. Illegal parking cannot be curbed unless the government makes substantial arrangements such as parking plazas.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2019.