Daily Times

LAHORE: Residents of Wahdat Colony, Rehmanpura and Muslim Town areas still wait for reconstruction of bus stops along a stretch of Wahdat Road demolished in the start of December 2016. Meanwhile, several stops along other major roads of the city demolished afterwards have been reconstructed already, Daily Times has learnt.

At least six bus stops along both sides of Wahdat Road from Naqsha Stop to Bhekewal Mor were demolished in December last year. These stops were to be reconstructed with waiting area covered to provide protection from sunlight. However, work has yet to be started on refurbishment of these stops.

Meanwhile, stops demolished after December last year along the Canal Road, Gulberg’s Main Boulevard, Jail Road, and The Mall have already been reconstructed with covered waiting areas.

Speaking to Daily Times, perturbed residents of affected areas said that the delay in reconstruction of bus stops along Wahdat Road seemed to be because the road did not feature in the chief minister’s itinerary across the city.

Lahore Transport Company CEO Khawaja Haider Latif said that the company had written letters to the departments concerned to ensure reconstruction of all stops in the city in a timely manner. He said he hoped that the stops would soon be reconstructed and handed over to the company for maintenance purposes. “The demolition of stops took place before the establishment of the new municipal corporation headed by elected representatives. Perhaps, that is why we are seeing the delay,” he said.

Latif said 69 stops reconstructed under the Khoobsurat Lahore Framework in different areas had been handed over to the company for maintenance.

Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) director general Mian Shakeel Ahmed said the task of reconstruction of stops along Wahdat Road was delegated to the authority around six to seven weeks ago. “We will complete reconstruction work by the end of July,” he said. Lahore Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal and Lord Mayor Mubashir Javid were not available for comment.

Published in Daily Times, June 24th, 2017.