The Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA) has decided to display LEDs at different locations of the provincial capital to alert people about traffic congestions and alternative routes. Initially, the authority has planned to display LEDs at around 70 locations of the city. The PSCA will also display messages for the commuters about traffic jams to guide them about alternative routes.
The LEDs will also be installed at entry and exit points of the city to keep an eye on every person. The authority claimed they had initially installed LEDs at different locations of the Canal Bank Road while further process is underway. The officials said this project is a part of "intelligence system."
However, the city traffic police and the district government have not initiated any anti-encroachment operation in Lahore that causes traffic jams. The encroachers have reportedly occupied the main roads which include Mall Road, Branth Road, Hall Road, Badami Bagh Road, Bilal Gang Road, Shah Alam Road, Urdu Bazar Road, Bidon Road, Chamberlain Road, Fane Road, Landa Road, Nisbat Road, and Walton Road besides many others.
The double-side road parking has also become the major problem but the concerned authorities have not taken any legal action against them. Earlier in November 2016, City Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore Tayyab Hafeez Cheema had vowed for launching "anti-encroachment operation" in Lahore but it proved just a claim. According to sources, the CTO had received several "warning letters" but he could not take appropriate measures to mitigate the concerns which forced the chief minister for issuance of his transfer order. Asif Bhatti, a trader at the Hall Road, said that the traffic police officials prefer to lift cars of traffic violators instead of initiating legal action against them.
"The Punjab police and the district government should adopt zero tolerance policy against the encroachers if they want to facilitate the commuters by maintaining smooth traffic flow," he suggested. He, however, appreciated the initiative taken by the Punjab Safe City Authority, saying this will definitely help maintain traffic flow in the city.