Increasing traffic jams and apparent helplessness of traffic cops have forced rickshaw drivers to quit their profession which required them to stay on the roads for long hours.
Traffic jams due to the menaces of encroachments, protest demonstrations, rallies, and other political activities has strongly damaged the environment and peace of the city.
In the wake of this situation a number of rickshaw drivers have adopted alternate professions to earn their livelihood.
Talking to APP on Tuesday, motorcycle and CNG rickshaw drivers alleged that corrupt traffic authorities were forcing the drivers to bribe them for stopping to pick passengers at unauthorised stops, thus causing traffic jams.
“Thousands of vehicles were seen moving at a snail’s pace in busy areas, especially on Shadman chowk, Lawrence Road, Railway Station, Garhi Shahu, Jail Road, Ferozpur Road, Wahdat Road, Samanabad, Mughal Pura, Fatima Jinnah Road, Mall Road, Hall Road, Nicholson Road, Shah Alam Market and other link roads for picking up students and causing worst traffic jams in the city, “said Ali Kramat, a rickshaw driver.
Other auto rickshaw drivers said that they had to charge more from passengers during CNG holidays as petrol was very expensive.
They said people gave up the expensive option of rickshaws and used time-consuming public transports to reach destinations.
Rickshaw drivers told APP that, the situation had made the traffic wardens helpless as the authorities had no viable plan to ease the conditions for road users.
Aslam, Sheraz, Haneef and Rizwan said encroachments were on the rise at Brandeth Road, Shah Alam Market, Anarkali Bazar,Mcload Road, Allama Iqbal Road, Vegetable Market, Lahore General Bus Stand,Batti Chowk,Ferozepur Road and some other public places where shopkeepers and vendors occupied footpaths and open spaces in the area.
Faced with massive traffic jams, weekly CNG closures, expensive fuel and quarrels with the passengers, the rickshaw drivers regretted that they were unable to continue their profession.
The drivers appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister to take all possible measures to improve the traffic situation in the provincial capital.
An official of the traffic police said that all possible measures were being taken to control traffic and more personnel would be deputed at busy roads.