Lahore: Lahore is the centre of Punjab and one of the busiest cities in Pakistan, with a population of more than 120 million.

Traffic in Lahore has tripled during the last 16 years, but the number of traffic controllers has dropped by almost 50%. The ever-increasing rush of heavy traffic on the roads often results in traffic jams, quarrels, and even loss of human life.

A single warden can be responsible for 1900 vehicles on the road. Wardens are failing to control traffic in the city.

A total of 3.99 million vehicles have been registered in Lahore during the past decade according to the Motor Registration Authority of the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department.

In 2006, 4,000 wardens were deployed under the new traffic system. At that time, 1.6 million vehicles were running on the roads. Now, the number of cars in Lahore has exceeded 6.7 million.

The shortage of wardens has made the traffic in Lahore extremely chaotic. Reckless drivers put not only their own but also their passengers’ lives at risk.

“More time is needed to address the shortage of wardens,” said Traffic Police Chief Muntazer Mehdi.

Keeping these things in view, the concerned authorities need to take necessary measures to ease the burden on the people of the city. New roads, improving the service structure of the disciplinary force and applying modern traffic systems are essential to attain a permanent solution to the city’s traffic issue.