Eid rush: Commuters cowed into waiting

Expansion of cattle markets leads to traffic jams.

LAHORE:

Cattle markets authorised by the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) are bursting at the seams and cattle dealers have ‘expanded’ the markets on to highways. This has resulted in traffic being choked at major entrances to the city.

The CDGL had fixed six spots for cattle dealers, including Shahpur Kanjaran on Multan Road, LDA Avenue 1 at Raiwind Road, Kacha Ferozepur Road, Class Marri on Burki Road, Quaid-i-Azam Interchange on GT Road and Bilal City near the Saggian Bridge. An unauthorised market has sprung up on the GT Road near Shahdara in front of the Ferozewala police station.

The Shahpur Kanjaran cattle market has been causing the most problems for commuters as the cattle stalls have taken over a portion of Multan Road. Commuters have to wait for half an hour while entering or exiting the city. As more cattle dealers are expected soon, the traffic jams will likely worsen.

“We take this route every day but the market has disrupted our schedule,” said Hasnain Arif, a worker from Multan. He said that he was able to escape the traffic jam early in the morning but on the way back had experienced a 30 to 45 minutes delay.

Allama Iqbal Town municipal officer, Muhammad Arif, told The Tribune that he was helpless in the matter.  He said previously the CDGL had allocated 700 kanals to the Shahpur Kanjaran market but now it had given 300 kanals to Lahore Meat Company. “How can the market be managed in an orderly manner in such reduced space?” he said.

Arif said most animal dealers in Lahore arrive from south Punjab. He said buyers too park their vehicles on the roads.

Cattle dealer Nabi Buksh said he had not choice in the matter as space was limited and the administration did not provide any facilities. He said it was easier to find customers close to the main roads as many customers never visited the allocated areas which are off the roads. Buksh said the administration was understanding and lenient.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2011.