As a reaction to the massive criticism that the signal-free corridor project has garnered of late, and to counter the civil society-run Lahore Bachao Movement (Save Lahore Movement), the traders of Gulberg -- the affected area -- have launched ‘Lahore Banao Tehreek’ (Build Lahore Movement).

The site of the proposed underpass that connects Jail Road with Main Boulevard has banners hanging variously from the trees nearby, calling for an early completion of the project.

"We are a business community and the residents of Gulberg; we are the real stakeholders of the project and not the people from other parts of the city," says Mian Muhammad Saleem, one of the founders of the Lahore Banao Tehreek (LBT).

"The people, after years of getting practical benefits of different development projects such as the Jail Rd widening are all appreciation," he declares. "One can only appreciate these projects once they have completed."

Saleem, who is also the chairman of the traders association of MM Alam Road and an avowed supporter of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), rejects the "popular perception that the government is instrumental in making the group in order to counter all opposition.

"Out of the 13 petitioners the ones that moved court against the project are not the residents of Gulberg," he claims. "There was resistance against the Metro Bus and the Canal Road widening projects too. But no any counter-movement was launched. So why would we do it now?"

Saleem also says that easing the traffic is very important and would attract investors and international franchises to open their businesses in the region.

"The [said] project has nothing to with the landscape of the city. However, transparency in the projects must be maintained."

Mian Muhammad Saleem says people have the right to oppose or support any projects that the government announces. But this should generate a healthy debate at public foras.

Friday last, the Lahore High Court (LHC) barred the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) from starting the Signal-Free Corridor Project on Jail Road until the local government polls are held. A full bench of the LHC heard the case. The court also issued directives to commence legal proceedings against the LDA officials for starting the project without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Environment Protection Department (EPD).

Undeterred, Saleem says the court verdict has only given a fillip to their movement. On the other hand, Imrana Tiwana, the convener of the Lahore Conservation Society and a representative of the Save Lahore Movement, terms the case a historical victory. "These projects are unnecessary and only damage the environment," she insists.

"More than 90 per cent of the city people have no access to transportation facility; the flyovers and underpasses have no meaning for them."

Tiwana calls on the government to focus on improving public transport system and reduce the load of heavy traffic on the city roads.

Recently, the LDA approved contracts for two development projects worth Rs1.47 billion. The projects include the construction of a 7-kilometre long, signal-free corridor from Qartaba Chowk (Jail Road) to Liberty Roundabout (on Main Boulevard, Gulberg), at the cost of Rs1.3 billion. Besides, improvement of Southern Bypass Road from Thokar Niaz Beg Chowk to Wapda Town Roundabout (both ways), estimated to cost Rs170 million, is also in the pipeline.

Work on the first project, assigned to Habib Construction Services after bidding process, is scheduled to complete in four months’ time, says an LDA official, requesting anonymity. The two underpasses and seven signal-free U-turns shall be constructed as part of the said project.

The first underpass shall be built at the Shadman Chowk for the traffic coming from the China Chowk and going to the Shadman Market. This shall help to create an uninterrupted flow of traffic heading down the Mall and bound towards Shadman -- and vice versa.

The second underpass shall be constructed near the Sherpao Bridge for traffic going towards the Canal Bridge. The underpass at Siddiq Trade Centre crossing shall permit an easy flow of traffic on Jail Rd and Main Boulevard, and vice versa.

Seven signal-free U-turns are to be constructed at the Eden Center Chowk, Shadman Chowk, Racecourse Park Chowk, Canal Road, Zafar Ali Road, Fawwara Chowk, Main Market Gulberg Chowk and Zahoor Elahi Chowk crossings.

A government official says the main objective of the project is to save the commuters from long traffic snarl-ups at the abovementioned junctures. The construction of four pedestrian bridges at the cost of Rs60 million along the route is also part of the plan, he maintains.

Syed Seerat Hussain, president of the traders’ Gulberg Board, says the LDA is supporting the Lahore Banao Tehreek because it also serves their interest. "People from the entire Punjab come to Gulberg [Lahore] and say the signal-free corridor would be a significant development."

According to Hussain, there are 12 traffic signals en route from Qartaba Chowk to Kalma Chowk that would become redundant once the project is complete. "The project does not touch private land. Besides, no more than 200 trees shall need to be cut. In order to help the environment, the LDA intends to plant 3,000 new trees on the route.

"We believe that the courts are meant for the citizens, and not the other way round."

He says that earlier the court gave stay against the project, without listening to the citizens who were supportive of it.

There are four women educational institutions and around 40 public and private hospitals and the signal-free corridor would help them commute. "We must identify whether it’s a hundred trees that are important for us or a hundred lives," he asks. "When the trees are cut for the extensive Defence Housing Authority (DHA) phases, nobody dares to say a word. Some non-government organisations unnecessarily drag issues to suit their own agenda."

Hussain announces that the movement will gain momentum in the future and fresh protests will be launched against the court verdict.

Earlier this year, the LHC also stopped the Punjab government from declaring "emergency acquisition of land" for the planned Elevated Expressway from Gulberg to Motorway (M-II). The court termed the land acquisition illegal after the government failed to establish the urgency. The project was going to be started without any transparency and public debate on the required forums including the Punjab Assembly.

The Friday verdict of the court came after the LHC heard more than 120 individual petitions against the project. The court said it would issue guidelines on how the government should proceed on development projects.