Canal Road renovation having little to no effect in aiding public

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

LAHORE: The Canal Road modification project, declared by the Supreme Court (SC) as Heritage Urban Park, is going against the spirit of the apex court’s judgement, as a number of steps taken by the government in this regard have “imprisoned” the canal and made it inaccessible to pedestrians.
Urban planners and engineering experts believe that a number of steps taken by the Punjab government as part of the Canal Road modification project, including installation of barriers, railings and overhead walkways, were not people friendly as they limited pedestrians’ movement in the canal area.
They claimed that the spirit of the SC judgement had not been maintained in developing the heritage park and decorating the canal bank by setting aside public convenience and scenic beauty of the canal.
The SC judgement reads, “The Bambawala-Ravi-Bedian (BRB) Canal and greenbelt on both sides of the Canal Road (from Jallo Park to Thokar Niaz Baig) is a Public Trust. It shall be treated as Heritage Urban Park forthwith and declared so by an act to be passed by the Assembly as undertaken by the respondent, the provincial government.”
The judgement further says, “Widening of the road on both sides of the Canal Bank shall be in accordance with the report submitted by the Mediation Committee.”
Daily Times has learnt that overhead bridges and new barriers, which were being installed through heavy contracts, costing millions of rupees to public exchequer, were not part of the Mediation Committee’s report.
“The Rs 400 million overhead walkways and new barriers on Canal Road were never discussed in the Mediation Committee nor mentioned in the SC judgement. It is a wastage of money,” said a source.
Talking to Daily Times, a member of the Mediation Committee, urban development expert Imrana Tiwana said that by installing barriers the government “has imprisoned the beautiful canal which is a heritage and public asset”. She said, “There are 600 greenbelts, which are used as public parks by the people, especially those living in areas like Dharampura and Mughalpura. The Canal Road modification project will deprive these people of the facility of public parks.”
“Public convenience and facility have been totally ignored in this regard. There is a narrow footpath on one side and no footpath on the other side. Benches placed alongside the canal will be of no use as people have to go across the bridge to access them, which will be difficult for the elderly and those coming with families,” she added.
Currently, five overhead bridges for pedestrians have been constructed in different areas of the canal. The pedestrians would have to go over the bridge to cross the Canal Road or reach the canal park.
Engineering experts believe that the railings/barriers being installed for the protection of public would not serve the purpose. The railings installed by nailing the metal barriers to the concrete footpath would not be strong enough to stop high-speed cars from speeding into the public sitting area in case of an accident.
Furthermore, any person can jump over the barrier, which is just four-feet high, and children can pass through the spaces in between the railings.
Talking to Daily Times, transport consultant and engineer Mazhar Iqbal said that poor planning and unjustified steps by the government to modify the canal road and its banks would destroy the canal park.
Imrana Tiwana suggested that the canal should be secured by the approval of an act, as directed by the SC. She said that public interest and convenience should be given highest priority, footpaths should be widened and space along the canal be made usable.