The new flyover in the Kalma Chowk has been announced with much fanfare in the Punjabi capital and it is being touted as one of the projects that will solve the multiple traffic problems afflicting Lahore. Indeed, it will but only for the short-term. The problems that afflict Lahore will only worsen in the long run because of these very expensive ad-hocist measures. This same junction was remodeled less than a decade ago and it needs construction again. Does that seem like cost-effective measures.
The solution to traffic is better public transport not more roads. Public transport is not only a more democratic solution to traffic, it is also more green as it reduces the number of vehicles on the road. One way to instantly lessen traffic on roads is to make public transport compulsory for educational institutes.
Moreover, the Punjab government already has many incomplete projects on its hand, the Multan Road project being one of them. Can it really afford this project at this time?
Lastly, it cannot be denied that these roads are for the rich. . According to decent estimates, there are 40, 000 cars in Lahore. In a city with a population of about 9 million, more roads only serve a fraction of the population. Indeed, it will only help the commuters going to Model Town and other areas and that too for 5 or 10 years.
The urban planning in Lahore is abysmal, even if judged by extremely low standards. This flyover is a measure in a series of myopic judgment calls which will come back to bite Lahores administration in the not-so-distant future.
ALINA MUMTAZ
Lahore
