LAHORE THE Chief Traffic Officer, Lahore, Dr Usman Anwar on Wednesday submitted before the Lahore High Court traffic plans for both pre- and post- Rapid Bus Transit System project.
The plan contained routs/tracks for smooth moving of ambulances towards all government hospitals situated on the path of RBTS, especially General Hospital, Children’s Hospital and Gulab Devi Hospital.
The traffic plan was submitted in the court of Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh in connection with a petition against removal of a U-turn on Ferozepur Road in front of the Lahore General Hospital to accommodate construction of track for RBTS.
The CTO told the court that, after the completion of RBTS path, the ambulance would be allowed to move on the path till the bus service was not started. He said removal of encroachments from side-lanes would be ensured before the start of bus service so that ambulance and other emergency vehicles could move swiftly.
The traffic plans also contained suggestions, including construction of exclusive “shoulders” (roads) for emergency vehicles in the middle of main road. After going through the traffic plan, the judge adjourned further hearing till Aug 30.
Advocate Shahzad Nasir had filled the petition and submitted that the Punjab government launched RTBS project and authorities removed the U-turn in front of the hospital. He said the U-turn had been repositioned at a distance of four kilometers from the main entrance of the hospital.
The petitioner pleaded that the shifting of the U-turn would cause serious problems to visitors/patients of the hospital and the ambulances in particular.
He said the ambulance would have to take a long drive to reach the hospital.
The petitioner prayed that the respondent authorities should be ordered to shift the U-turn to its previous position.
(The News)
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