Rickshaw drivers quitting profession

LAHORE: A large number of rickshaw drivers have been quitting their profession due to weekly three-day CNG closures and daily routine of massive traffic jam in the provincial capital.

Traffic jam due to various construction projects on city roads have become a routine much to the annoyance of the rickshaw drivers who have to use extra CNG for reaching their destinations due to which they can not save any thing for their families.

Massive traffic jam for hours can be seen on Ferozepur Road, Canal Road, Jail Road and Allama Iqbal Road as construction of Muslim Town flyover, widening and improvement of Canal Road and replacement of sewerage/drainage system on Allama Iqbal Road, Garhi Shahu is under process.

Talking to APP here on Friday, Asad, Sultan, Zahid, Usman and some other rikshaw drivers claimed "The nightmarish situation of traffic mess at major city roads has disturbed us badly for earning".

They said that the situation had made the traffic wardens helpless as the authorities had no viable plan to ease the conditions for road users. "The passengers also claim to be fleeced by us due to which people often argue", drivers said.

Aslam, Sheraz, Haneef and Rizwan said that encroachments are on the rise in Branth Road, Shah Alam Market, Anarkali Bazar, Mcload Road, Allama Iqbal Road, Vegetable Market, Lahore General Bus Stand, Bhati Chowk, Ferozepur Road and some other public places where the shopkeepers and vendors have occupied most of the footpaths and open spaces in the area and hampering road traffic besides creating troubles for pedestrians.

They said that long queues of vehicles at gas filling stations extending on main roads caused severe traffic jams all over the business areas of the city after the three days closure of CNG.

Facing these type of circumstances including massive traffic jam, three days CNG closure, expensive fuel and quarrels with the passengers, the rickshaw drivers are not able to keep continue their profession, they added.

The drivers have appealed the Chief Minister Punjab to take all the possible initiative to improve the traffic situation in the provincial capital.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011