Incomplete patchwork causing traffic jams, accidents

LAHORE: Unfinished patchwork on Canal Bank Road is resulting in long queues of traffic increasing environmental pollution in the area as well as accidents.

Presently Canal Bank Road was dug in patches at different parts starting from Thokar towards Harbanspura due to which the road users have to face long queues and traffic jams on daily basis.

Interestingly, no warning signs such as “Work in Progress” or “Construction Ahead” were placed on the road to aware the road users about the ongoing patchwork. It is also pertinent to mention here that there was no mentioning anywhere which agency was carrying out the patchwork.

The Canal Road was cut in patches at different places, which forced the road users to drive zig zag resulting in traffic mess and accidents.Many citizens travelling on the road while talking to the scribe said they faced long queues after coming out from Jinnah Hospital underpass, before FC College underpass and before and after Jail Road underpass due to road cutting.

Citizens said the executing agency should install warning signs about the ongoing construction work on different roads connecting to the Canal Road so that the road users should think before travelling on the Canal Road.

It is pertinent to mention here that many road users also highlighted the issue on social media tagging Punjab Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Secretary Housing, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and other departments concerned.

Similarly, the Bund Road was also dug for lying of a sewer line and was causing serious trouble for the citizens as the road was one of the busiest roads of the city due to presence of inter-city transport and cargo services.

Recently, Secretary Housing Noorul Amin Mengal as well as LDA DG Tahir Farooq has categorically directed the LDA, Tepa, Wasa and PHA to install warning signs at all ongoing public projects.

However, poor monitoring of these directions were resulting in traffic mess and accidents at different places.When contacted, LDA DG Tahir Farooq said that he will take up the issue and assured that proper signage would be installed at every ongoing public sector project.