BRTS construction: Lahore High Court wants ambulance lanes for all hospitals

CTO to brief the court on August 8.

LAHORE:

The chief traffic officer on Monday gave an undertaking to the Lahore High Court to submit a plan whereby one lane on all roads leading to government hospitals will be reserved for ambulances.

Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh directed the police officer to apprise the court of the steps taken by the traffic police in this regard on August 8, the next hearing.

The judge was hearing a petition that had challenged the removal of a U-turn in front of General Hospital on Ferozepur Road. The turn has been shifted four kilometres to facilitate the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).

On Monday, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Dr Usman Anwar and the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA) chief engineer Muhammad Saeed Akhtar appeared before the court.

Reply to a question, the CTO said they are trying their best to reduce the inconvenience faced by commuters. The judge asked the two officials if it were possible to have a lane exclusively for ambulances. Anwar and Akhtar told the court they would need to consult their teams before answering the question. At this point, Justice Sheikh directed the traffic police to ensure that one of the lanes on roads leading to government hospitals are kept open for ambulances.

At the previous hearing, Akhtar had assured the court that roads affected by the BRTS construction would be restored to their original plans after the project is completed. Displeased, Justice Sheikh had summoned the chief traffic officer for Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2012.