Number of traffic wardens dwindles

Increase in vehicles, construction work frequently cause gridlock

LAHORE:

Despite an increase in problems on the roads because of construction work, protests and proliferation of vehicles, the number of traffic wardens in the provincial capital has dropped during the past 16 years.

According to an official, around 1,000 wardens have left the job during the period and due to lack of recruitment, one of their remaining colleague is responsible to control more than 2,200 vehicles in the city on average.

He said traffic jams had become normal in Lahore, including the old city and major roads. Ongoing road construction work in various areas and encroachment in the markets have compounded the traffic problems, which result in pollution as well as waste of time and fuel.

City Traffic Police Officer Captain (retd) Mustansar Feroze told The Express Tribune that there were around 1,700km-long roads in Lahore.

When the traffic wardens were appointed in the city 16 years ago to improve the traffic flow, their total number was about 3,400. However, only 2,400 of them, including 133 lady traffic wardens were currently serving. Around 1,000 wardens have left the job due to various reasons.

According to Feroze, the traffic in the city has increased three-fold during the period, while the number of wardens had dropped.

He said the 2,400 traffic wardens performed duties on the roads despite extreme weather conditions and other difficulties.

The current number of registered cars, loader vehicles and vans in the city is 1.4 million, which has risen from 430,000 in the year 2000, while the number of motorcycles is around 4.8 million.

The CTO said about 6.5 million vehicles had been registered in the city during last 22years.

He said the number of auto rickshaws running in the city streets was around 300,000.

But there are thousands of loader rickshaws in all markets of the city that have not been registered. The unregulated vehicles have become a major hindrance in smooth traffic flow.

Regarding the difficulties caused due to road closure during construction work on remodeling projects to improve the traffic flow, Central Business District Chief Engineer Riaz Hussain said expansion of the road network and underpasses was necessary to reduce traffic problems in the city.

He said the remodeling project from Kalma Chowk to Liberty Chowk had reduced traffic problems. The official claimed that the remodeling project would be an exemplary at the national level.

On the other hand, a commuter, Usman Rafiq, complained that the traffic wardens were not performing their duties properly.

He said they appeared more interested in imposing fine on motorcycle and rickshaw drivers.

A resident of the metropolis, Kiran Shahid, said widening and construction of roads was necessary to improve the traffic flow.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2023.