Lahore often witnesses the worst traffic jams on its busiest roads during peak hours. Despite the Punjab government’s efforts to solve traffic-related problems and the money spent on various projects, such as signal-free roads and elevation of U-turns, clogged roads remain a nuisance.

These chock-a-block road scenes are evident of the government’s inability to deal with the issue and provide a solid and permanent solution to the problem.

The performance of Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) has also been called into question regarding various projects, including the planning of Jail Road, Muslim Town underpasses and the Muslim Town flyover. The Jail Road underpass is on the left side of the road and must be aligned to the right in line with other underpasses. This causes problems for commuters, as this lane is meant for overtaking.

According to TEPA Chief Engineer Israr Saeed, the Jail Road underpass is due to be aligned to the right soon, but he did not specify when this will happen.

Recently, the Punjab government inaugurated a positive initiative of the Feeder Bus Service. This service includes 200 buses on 14 feeder routes in the first phase. Commuters will be charged Rs15 only as fare from one end to the other.

However, the growing population of Lahore demands an effective and well-planned traffic system, which should be based on extensive research by the government. It also needs to pay attention to the effects of these projects on environment and health.

The Centre for Public Policy and Governance stressed the Orange Line Metro Train would increase temperatures in Lahore by six to eight degrees Celsius. Their findings also indicated that increased heat and pollutants, both in short and long term, had not been fully assessed before the project was initiated.

The traffic problem could not be justified by the excuse of too many cars on roads; it is due to ineffective traffic control systems. The Punjab government keeps on introducing decongestion projects knowing that they are temporary solutions. Time has come to take serious measures to ensure smooth and flawless traffic.

Perhaps, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif could pay attention to how some of the world’s best traffic systems have evolved. There could not be a better example than the London traffic system. The UK capital’s road network is managed between Transport for London (TfL), the Highways Agency and the boroughs together with the city of London. TfL’s role is to ensure movement on roads as 80 per cent of all journeys in the city are undertaken by road. The manageable traffic on London’s roads takes a lot of coordination between TfL, the boroughs and the capital’s 6,000 traffic signals.

The point to analyse is how TfL manages to maintain smooth flow of traffic in one of the busiest cities of the world. Transport for London claims that it is based on extensive research, modelling and use of most updated computer technology.

TfL has deployed modern technology at many signals to monitor traffic level and adjust durations accordingly. For example, they can change the duration of red or green lights at traffic signals. This will give them an opportunity to clear an unexpected blockade at a junction quickly or control cars moving into an already congested area to avoid a gridlock.

The Punjab government established the Punjab Safe City Authority in October 2016. Under this authority, around 800 CCTV cameras were installed at key public points of Lahore. However, this project is still at its initial stage and the installation of cameras is expected to be completed around June this year, according to the management.

“So far, the Punjab Safe City Authority has confirmed 1.4 million violations by road users who were caught through CCTV cameras, and around 25,000 violations per day in Lahore were recorded by the authority,” Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Rai Ijaz Ahmed explained.

He admitted that a lack of awareness about traffic rules and hazard signs is a major problem, and that traffic wardens need to be trained to deal with commuters effectively.

“Education and public awareness regarding traffic rules is crucial. The role of teachers, parents, school and society together can achieve this. There are lapses on the part of the traffic department while the public also ignores traffic rules,” the CTO added.

Traffic jams on roads can even cause anxiety and frustration among commuters.

“Too much noise from horns and non-functional traffic signals increase the level of frustration, which in turn leads to anxiety,” Dr Farah Malik, director of the Institute of Applied Psychology and Centre for Clinical Psychology, explained.

“When people face these situations for long periods, they may develop anxiety disorders, especially Generalised Anxiety Disorder,” Dr Farah added.

The Centre for Public Policy and Governance’s findings on transport planning illustrate: “The government’s development models of signal-free corridors and mass transit schemes are contrary to one another. While one champions the common man, nothing is being done to activate a culture where dependence on private transport vehicle is reduced. The government needs to develop and implement a publicly integrated transport plan of Lahore.”

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2017