Stair safety

The Metro Bus System, operated by the Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA), serves as a vital commuting lifeline. The Qartaba Chowk bus station stands out as a critical hub due to its strategic location. This station handles a significant portion of the system’s daily passenger traffic. However, passengers traveling from Gajjumata and disembarking at Qartaba Chowk face significant challenges when descending the station’s stairs. The treads (the horizontal part of a step) and risers (the vertical part) are poorly designed, with narrow and inconsistent dimensions that deviate from safety standards. Several commuters, including the writer, have experienced near-falls or stumbled due to these imbalanced steps, raising concerns about the potential for serious accidents, especially during peak hours when the station is crowded.

According to architectural and safety standards, ideal stair dimensions include a tread depth of approximately 10.0 inches and a riser height between 7.0 and 7.5 inches. In contrast, inspections and user reports suggest that the treads at Qartaba Chowk are narrower and the risers are inconsistent in height, creating hazardous conditions for commuters, particularly the elderly, disabled or those carrying luggage. The Punjab Masstransit Authority must urgently address this issue by conducting a thorough assessment of the Qartaba Chowk station’s staircases and implementing corrective measures.

Awais Qarni

Lahore