LAHORE: In recent times, the people of Lahore have been facing serious traffic problems. One encounters troublesome traffic jams, particularly in the morning, when people leave for their offices and students for their universities. The same situation is faced in the evening when people are returning to their homes. Now, ever since the advent of Ramazan, traffic jams during iftar have become common place, with people having been forced to spend iftar time in their vehicles.
There are myriad of reasons behind this traffic mess. The unprecedented rise in vehicular traffic is the major cause behind it. Added to this is the inefficient traffic management system, violation of traffic rules by motorists, negligence by traffic wardens, VIP movements, lack of a proper transportation system, constructions without provision of alternative routes and a lack of patience and general traffic sense among citizens.
The traffic system needs reforms as it is not working at all. There is a need to increase the number of traffic wardens in the city and train them better as they seem to abdicate all responsibility whenever there is a traffic jam. Also, perhaps, solar energy should be used to operate traffic signals as they often stop working due to regular power outages. The citizenry must also display patience on the city’s roads as it is often the behaviour of motorists that leads to traffic problems.
Nadia Ehsan
Published in The Express Tribune, August 1st, 2012.
