A 12-kilometre under construction stretch of National Highway-5 (NH-5), from Manga Mandi to Maraka, is creating hours-long traffic jams besides frequent accidents and vehicle damage.
The one-way road was converted into two-way road in May to accommodate the construction project but it has increased the increased the likelihood of accidents more than ever. The project has caused multiple accidents resulting in casualties and injuries injured since the diversions were made on the section.
The project has its environmental impacts as well; the permanent presence of dust, increased travel time, noise and smoke on the road as well as in the localities around the under-construction road are but a few of them.
It has also brought to focus the road safety related issues; long traffic jams, fatal accidents and psychological impact on daily road users caused by the slow pace of work on this section. Being the most important national highway for transportation and communication between Punjab and Sindh, the delay in the completion of the project is causing billions of rupees to the exchequer. Delay in execution of the project has reportedly increased its cost seven times.
The concerned authorities are requested to look into the causes of this delay.
IMRAN HAYAT
Lahore
