V-shaped City hurdle in expansion

“The City is just running in one direction and that is Raiwind and the trend will force the people to travel up to 55 km on congested roads daily for attending their offices and educational institutions located in central part of the City,” a source said, adding that the long travelling distances with vehicular noise and other forms of pollution which make poor citizens deaf and mentally sick by increasing depression and anxiety.
One such example is the Chowk Yateem Khana where noise pollution is 90 decibel and the people cannot hear or call each other without using gestures or signs to get attention, as many shopkeepers near running their businesses along the Multan Road have damaged their eardrums due to constant noise. Now they are unable to hear low frequency sound forcing others to increase their voice pitch, thus generating more noise.
In this regard, Deputy District Officer Environment Younus Zahid told The Nation that 90-decibel noise had been recorded at many crossings in the City, which was an ultimate result of lack of any planning.
“People remain on roads for longer duration while vehicles ply on the roads 24 hours as there are thousands of people who travel to Lahore High Court and The Mall daily and then return back home within a limited period”, he explained.
The DDO warned that the situation would deteriorate further in case the expansion continued in the illogical way it had been. All crossings on the busy arteries and crossings like Qurtaba Chowk, Ferozepur Road and Multan Road up to Thokar Niaz Beg, and from Chauburgi to Minar Pakistan, Lorry Adda, Data Darbar and GT Road have 80 to 90 decibel noise which is making people mentally sick.
It is very much clear that even the Ring Road and other mass transit roads along the Ferozepur Road and Multan Road will not help reduce the traffic mess if the City keeps growing in one direction, sources added.