LAHORE: Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) has started the renovation of nine underpasses with a heavy cost of Rs300 million, which could have been spent on some other public development projects such as road patchwork, provision of water supply and etc.
The nine underpasses where renovation was taking place included, Doctor’s Hospital Underpass, Jinnah Hospital Underpass, Punjab University Underpass, Muslim Town Underpass, Ferozepur Road Underpass, FC College Underpass, Jail Road Underpass, Mall Road Underpass and Dharampura Underpass.
As soon as the renovation work was started some days back, the smog was at its peak and placement of safety signboards on the entrances of the underpasses resulted in traffic congestion. Secondly, the TEPA/LDA workers started scratching off the tiles from the walls of the underpasses, which generated a lot of dust resulting in increase in smog.
On the other hand, the civil society raised serious objections to spending a huge money of Rs300 million on the renovation of nine underpasses and demanded the chief minister immediately stop this project and divert these funds for any other public welfare project.
They said the country was already facing a huge financial crisis and TEPA/LDA was spending millions on such projects, which were of no use for the welfare of the people. They said these funds can be used in under-developed localities, for roads patchwork in low-lying areas, for upgrading schools and dispensaries, for providing clean drinking water to the people and etc.
Similarly, several private town planners also objected to this project and said brightly-coloured and eye-catching decoration of underpasses may prove to be a safety hazard as it distracts the concentration of the driver.
Earlier, the city administration decorated the ceilings of underpasses on Lahore’s Canal Bank Road, which have become one of the biggest distractions for the drivers/motorists especially those entering the underpass first time as one’s gaze automatically goes up to see the colourful strips.
‘Each time a driver takes his/her focus off the road, even if just for a split off a second, he/she is putting his/her life and the lives of others in danger,’ Shahid Manzoor, a private town planner said, adding different studies showed that in the US, road distractions were associated with 15 percent to 25 percent of crashes at all levels. Use of cell phones during driving, talking with other passengers, eating, looking here and there, engaging one’s self with car tape/radio are some of the basic distractions, which a driver should avoid, said a traffic police officer performing duty near FC College. He, however, requested anonymity and said he was not allowed to comment before the press without permission of his seniors.
He said usually vehicles enter the underpasses in a speedy way and as soon as the driver comes close to the underpass’s entrance, he/she sees colourful designs, which lure his gaze for a split of second and that second can be fatal for him/her.
Citizens also termed the TEPA’s project unnecessary and waste of funds. Shakeel Butt, a resident of Muslim Town said ‘Yes, this could be a very big distraction.’ He said he had already faced an accident at FC College underpass due to the distraction of colourful strips installed on its ceiling.
Iqrar Hussain, Chief Engineer TEPA while talking with the scribe said that the tiles of the underpasses were almost 15 years old and needs replacement. He said under this project, the tiles would be removed and then concrete base would be made, then lighting would be installed and different designs would be made in the underpasses.
Over a question of distraction of drivers, he said that the lighting would be low and would not distract anyone. Over another question that these funds could have been used on any under-developed area of the City, he said, the underpasses were very old and needed renovation.