CM Maryam orders dedicated bike lanes on major Lahore roads

LAHORE, Aug 31 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday ordered the designation of dedicated bike lanes on major roads in Lahore and directed authorities to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules by vehicles operating under the Suthra Punjab programme.

Presiding over a special meeting on traffic management, the CM expressed concern over violations of traffic laws by Suthra Punjab vehicles and directed that the vehicles be made to comply with traffic regulations without exception. She also expressed grief over the death of a minor girl after being run over by a Suthra Punjab vehicle.

The meeting reviewed measures to improve traffic flow, pedestrian safety and traffic management in Lahore.

The CM directed that zebra crossings be strictly enforced for pedestrians and agreed to introduce camera-based digital monitoring to ensure compliance. A proposal to install alert buttons for pedestrians crossing roads was also reviewed.

She ordered the launch of a pilot project on The Mall to enforce zebra crossing rules and directed that Ferozepur Road also be developed as a model road for Lahore.

The CM directed the authorities to ensure that cargo tractor-trolleys did not ply roads without proper covering. She specifically ordered strict implementation of the covering requirement for Suthra Punjab tractor-trolleys as well. She also ordered action across the province to prevent overloading of tractor-trolleys ahead of the sugarcane season.

The CM directed the authorities to take immediate measures to ease traffic congestion at Shahdara and Thokar Niaz Baig, stressing that traffic movement at Lahore’s entry and exit points should not face any obstruction. She also directed the installation of traffic signals at Pine Avenue and Jati Umra Chowk as part of traffic management measures.

The CM expressed satisfaction over the improvement in Lahore’s traffic ranking in South Asia.

Chief Traffic Officer Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi told the meeting that Lahore had improved its position in the Numbeo Global Traffic Ranking Index and was now ranked better than 149 cities globally. He said traffic congestion had declined by up to 70 per cent at several locations, including Jati Umra Chowk, Pine Avenue, Defence Mor, Karim Block, Akbar Flyover, Kahna and Main Boulevard.

The meeting was informed that 4,096 traffic permits/licences had been issued to children aged between 16 and 18 years. As many as 65,000 panic buttons had also been installed for women at various locations across Lahore.