Signal-free corridor: ‘Govt should find alternative ways to control traffic’

Architect Arif Hasan has termed project harmful for environment, says Raja

LAHORE:

The government should take alternative steps to control traffic instead of constructing the Jail Road Signal-Free Corridor, Advocate Salman Akram Raja said on Tuesday.

He was presenting his arguments before a full bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC), hearing petitions filed against the project.

Raja, who represents IA Rehman, Imrana Tiwana, Ayaz Amir, Faryal Ali Gohar and 15 others, resumed his arguments as the hearing started on Tuesday.

“Architect Arif Hasan has expressed reservations over the project. He has described it as harmful to the environment. Hasan has said developed countries have ended the practice of constructing such corridors,” Raja said.

He said various steps were taken to control traffic in the world. “In UK, vehicles entering high-congestion areas are charged fees. In Paris, vehicles with even registration numbers can enter a busy area on a particular day and those with odd numbers on a different day. The Punjab government should take some other steps to control traffic instead of carrying such projects,” he said.

The court then adjourned the hearing for Wednesday (today).

At the previous hearing, Raja had said that the project was harmful to the environment. “It is being carried out illegally by usurping funds allocated for areas other than Lahore,” he had said.

On March 6, Justice Shah had stayed work on the project and directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to immediately remove all construction machinery from the site. Later, the LHC chief justice had formed a full bench to hear the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2015.