The Punjab government has introduced a dedicated Green Biker Lane in Rawalpindi for motorcycle riders after Lahore to address traffic concerns.
Motorcyclists will now be able to easily travel on a dedicated track from Gulzar-e-Quaid to the Flying Club and from the Flying Club to Korral Turn on Old Airport Road.
As the City Traffic Police (CTP) is working on raising awareness among motorcyclists and also enforcing the rules, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Director-General Kinza Murtaza says reflectors and signals will be placed on the Green Biker Lane, especially at turns.
Additionally, two monuments will be erected at specific points on the road to highlight the culture of Punjab and Rawalpindi, she adds.
Following the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to ensure smooth traffic flow and safe travel on roads, the RDA has launched a pilot project.
In the first phase, a five-kilometre track for motorcyclists has been developed on both sides of Old Airport Road at a cost of Rs45 million, with a 12-foot wide Green Biker Lane.
The track, which stretches from Korral Chowk to the Flying Club and back, has been partially completed and is now operational on a trial basis. Work is still ongoing on one side of the road. Motorcyclists have already started benefiting from the dedicated lane.
According to the RDA DG, a special type of paint has been used to ensure that bikers do not slip, even during rain. The facility will be gradually extended to other busy roads in the city, including Nur Khan Air Base and Murree Road.
The CTP has deployed traffic wardens at specific points on the road to enforce traffic laws and provide awareness to motorcyclists regarding Green Biker Lane.
Chief Traffic Officer Beenish Fatima believes that the Green Biker Lane will improve traffic flow and reduce accidents. She emphasise that violations of traffic laws will be addressed with strict action.
Additionally, once the lane is fully operational, speed cameras will be used to monitor the traffic. After Ramazan, the roads will be declared for strict enforcement of seat belts, speed limits, and other traffic regulations.
Motorcyclists in Rawalpindi have expressed their satisfaction with the newly introduced lane, but some citizens have raised concerns about the service road or link road along the track from Gulzar-e-Quaid to the Flying Club, as vehicles passing through this area can disrupt the smooth flow of traffic and increase the risk of accidents.
Citizens have urged the authorities to address this issue as well.
The Punjab government's initiative to create the Green Biker Lane by removing encroachments and focusing on citizens' convenience is praiseworthy, but the government needs to address any flaws in the pilot project in the next phase to ensure the safety and well-being of the people of Punjab, they add.
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