PSL playoffs leave traffic in a mess

Author: Imran chaudhry

LAHORE: Traffic police have remained failed to maintain smooth traffic flow in the provincial metropolis during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) knockout matches at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Despite the announcement of alternative routes and diversion plans, traffic gridlocks and tailbacks were seen on major roads of the city, including Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Canal Road, The Mall, Jail Road, Main Boulevard and linking arteries. Road users blamed traffic police for poor maintenance of traffic on city roads.

Also, ambulances carrying patients to hospitals remained stuck in massive traffic jams, while road users had to face a lot of trouble for hours to move from one place to another.

Ambulances of rescue teams failed to respond to emergencies timely due to massive traffic jams. A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 said that neither their ambulances could respond to emergencies timely nor they could shift patients to hospitals on time. He added that delay in response time had ultimately added to sufferings of patients and their families.

Road users alleged that the authorities concerned did not erect diversion signboards on major roads.

Although loads of policemen were standing alert on major city roads but traffic came to a grinding halt in most parts of the city.

Talking to Daily Times, police officials said, “Our first duty was to maintain law and order and ensure smooth traffic flow but not at the cost of rules violation.”

According to the traffic plan for the PSL matches, seven superintendents of police (SPs),22 deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), 97 patrolling officers, 2,000 traffic wardens as well as 56 lady traffic wardens were deputed across the city to maintain smooth flow of traffic. However, with this magnanimous figure, traffic mess in the provincial capital could not be controlled.

On the other hand, spokesperson for DIG Operations as well as traffic police said that people had appreciated the performance of city police and traffic police during the PSL matches.

Published in Daily Times, March 22th 2018.

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