GUJRANWALA City News

Rising number of vehicles

aggravating traffic problems in Gujranwala

From Our Correspondent

GUJRANWALA: With the growth of population and increasing number of vehicles, the people have been facing severe traffic problems throughout the city.

Every one can see that a large number of two-stroke rickshaws and motorcycle-rickshaws are plying on all city roads, especially on GT Road from Pindi Bypass to Sialkot Bypass, Noshera Road, Jinnah Road and Circular Road. According to Section 15 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, motor vehicles, which produce air pollutants and noise beyond the limits of national environmental quality standard, are not allowed to run on roads, but the Environment Protection Department has allegedly failed to counter vehicular pollution in the city, where it has become a threat to the people’s health. The vehicles especially rickshaws are contributing air pollution through poisonous gases. The dilapidated roads and long queues of vehicles have become a common scene across the city, making the people’s life miserable. Another cause of traffic jams is non-observance of the rules and lack of traffic sense on the part of the citizens, who often violate one-way signs and do not follow lane-management.

The citizens have demanded the Transport Department and the Environment Protection Department work together to control the rising air and noise pollution in the city. They suggest that two-stroke rickshaws must be replaced with four-stroke rickshaws. The people say that the traffic police should also start a campaign against smoke-emitting vehicles.