Traffic Changes in Lahore Cause Congestion, Accidents, Hinder Commuting

Traffic management changes in Lahore aimed at creating signal-free corridors are now drawing criticism, as the replacement of signals with U-turns is causing congestion, increasing accidents, and making daily commuting more difficult for citizens.

In Lahore, the largest city of Pakistan’s biggest province, more than 130 traffic signals installed over the past 20 years have been removed and replaced with U-turns intended to improve traffic flow and the city’s aesthetics. These measures, part of the “signal-free corridors” project that began during former President Pervez Musharraf’s era, aimed to ease congestion alongside the construction of flyovers, underpasses, and road widening projects.

While the initiative has slightly improved traffic movement, the rapid increase in vehicles has narrowed many streets, creating congestion at U-turns and contributing to accidents caused by speeding. Major roads and corridors affected include Canal Road, Jail Road, Ferozepur Road, GT Road, Mall Road (partially), Qartaba Chowk, Azadi Chowk, Walton Road, Qainchi Flyover area, Defence to Gulberg Boulevard, MM Alam Road, Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Band Road, Defence Road, Abdul Sattar Edhi Road, Raiwind Road, Pine Avenue, Johar Town Boulevard, and others.

Residents have expressed concerns about the impact of these U-turns on daily commuting. Hassan Khalid and Qasim Nagi, residents of Canal Road, felt that the U-turns cause significant inconvenience while traffic police checkpoints to catch one-way violators further worsen congestion, turning minutes-long journeys into hours.

Zafar Mushtaq from Mughalpura noted that on Link Road, four traffic signals were removed and replaced with two U-turns; while traffic flow increased, the narrow cuts reduced road width, leading to jams and wasted fuel. Similarly, Nauman Sheikh from Johar Town added that U-turns on Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, connecting Jinnah Hospital to Canal Road and surrounding societies, are extremely dangerous. Daily accidents occur because there is limited space on both the road and the U-turns, and traffic jams are severe during peak hours.

Urban planner Mian Sohail Hanif Bhandara criticized the planning of U-turns, saying that instead of improving traffic, they have increased congestion and accidents. “U-turns were built without proper consideration of available road space, and many have single-lane cuts instead of the standard double-lane design, which slows traffic further. At traffic signals, drivers can estimate waiting times, but at congested U-turns, it can take up to three times longer to pass. Limited turning space is the main flaw, and widening U-turns would improve traffic flow and reduce accidents,” said Bhandara.

LDA Director Iqrar Hussain acknowledged that some protected U-turns in Lahore have a small turning radius, creating congestion. “Unnecessary traffic police checkpoints for one-way violations worsen traffic flow. Pedestrian bridges over U-turns are underused, forcing people to cross the road and contributing to accidents. Nearly 100 U-turns were created by removing traffic signals, and authorities are monitoring these locations. Where road widths are insufficient, they are being increased to ensure safer and smoother traffic movement,” said Hussain.