Frequent gridlocks grind city to halt

LAHORE:

The Punjab government has announced a comprehensive plan to address Lahore's chronic parking crisis, as weekday traffic congestion continues to cripple the provincial capital, particularly during business hours.

In a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, officials underscored the urgent need to expand the city's limited parking infrastructure.

With a population exceeding 15 million, Lahore faces mounting vehicular congestion that has overwhelmed existing parking facilities.

The chief minister directed the relevant departments to expedite the construction of multi-storey parking plazas in some of the city's most densely populated areas.

According to government officials, preliminary planning has been completed for more than a dozen such facilities.

However, a fresh feasibility reassessment of the proposed sites has been ordered to ensure practical implementation.

Proposed locations include Mall Road (Town Hall), Regal Chowk, Circular Road, Yateem Khana, Ferozepur Road and Gulberg.

The initiative is part of an urban development strategy aimed at improving traffic flow and easing commutes for residents and visitors.

It is noteworthy that a recent hearing at the Lahore High Court revealed alarming figures concerning illegal parking operations.

The court was informed that more than 1,000 unauthorised parking stands are operating across the city, contributing to substantial revenue losses and widespread urban disorder.

The court had directed the Lahore Parking Company (LPC) to immediately dismantle the illegal facilities; however, the directive has yet to be implemented in letter and spirit.

Investigations have indicated that many of these operations persist due to alleged negligence or collusion by officials from municipal bodies, the traffic police and other law enforcement agencies. Despite rising population, inflation and increased parking charges, LPC's revenue has declined sharply over the past decade.

Established in 2011 to modernise parking management by taking over responsibilities from the Metropolitan Corporation, the LPC was tasked with implementing digital fee collection, deploying uniformed staff and ensuring orderly vehicle queuing at designated sites.

Parking fees initially stood at Rs5 for motorcycles and Rs10 for cars, later rising to Rs20 and Rs30, respectively. However, unregulated parking stands across Lahore reportedly charge up to Rs50 for motorcycles and Rs200 per hour for cars.

Illegal and unregulated parking operations remain prevalent across key commercial and residential areas, including Circular Road, Hall Road, Mall Road, Jail Road, Gulberg, Liberty Market, Ferozepur Road, Wahdat Road, and Iqbal Town, as well as near hospitals and courts.

In several instances, private entities and traders' associations have set up their own parking stands, often charging excessive fees.

Meanwhile, a city-wide campaign to eliminate illegal constructions and restore public spaces has so far resulted in the removal of 21 permanent and over 2,200 temporary encroachments from multiple areas.

The crackdown is being conducted in collaboration with the MCL.

As part of the operation,34 truckloads of seized material have been confiscated and 201 properties sealed for violating municipal regulations.

More than 6,500 unauthorised banners, posters and advertisements have also been removed from public spaces.

The authorities have registered two FIRs over severe breaches of law.

Over 20 major locations across the city have been targeted, including Pir Makki, Islam Pura, Garhi Shahu, Lower Mall Road, Sant Nagar, Anarkali, Mozang Chungi, Ravi Road, Misri Shah, Timber Market, Bund Road and Daroghawala.

Other areas such as Nishtar, Kamahan, Kahna and Allama Iqbal Town, along with commercial hubs like Jain Mandir, Neela Gumbad and Urdu Bazaar have also been cleared of encroachments.

Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza said the anti-encroachment drive was aimed at restoring the city's beauty and ensuring unhindered public access to roads, walkways and open areas.

"This operation is a critical step toward reclaiming Lahore's public spaces and improving urban mobility," he said.

He added that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has shown keen interest in the operation, envisioning a clean and encroachment-free Lahore as part of her urban reform agenda.

The district administration vowed to continue the drive with full momentum and take strict action against repeat offenders.

With additional input from APP