LAHORE: Residents of various housing societies situated on both sides of the Canal Road stretch from Harbanspura onward and adjoining areas, have been facing persistent traffic bottlenecks due to the narrow road and bridge (culvert), as authorities concerned are turning a blind eye to the issue.

The issue that has been persisting for years has become a daily ordeal for the commuters, especially during peak hours, with little sign of relief by the authorities concerned.

On the other hand, the motorists from other parts of the city, who use this stretch of the Canal Road on a daily basis, have also criticised the government for doing nothing to resolve the critical issue.

The road stretch, which also connects various housing colonies with the Canal Road, remains one of the busiest sections in the area. During school and office hours, long queues of vehicles are witnessed on both sides of the canal, leaving residents frustrated and exhausted.

“It sometimes takes me half an hour just to get across the bridge,” says Mian Afzal, an area resident. “If there is a minor accident or a vehicle breaks down, the entire traffic clogs and we get stuck for even longer.”

Many area residents argue that the situation has gone from bad to worse over the past decade, despite repeated promises from successive governments to resolve.

During its previous tenure, the PML-N government in Punjab had approved a plan to widen the road stretch and construct U-turns from the Dharampura underpass to Jallo Morr on the Canal Road. The scheme was meant to ease traffic congestion and provide relief to thousands of daily commuters.

The government also built the Beijing Underpass to ease constant traffic congestion at the Chaubacha railway crossings outside the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club.

The Canal Road had been widened up to the Harbanspura police station. However, following the 2018 elections, when the PTI formed its government in Punjab, the project was shelved along with several other initiatives launched by the outgoing PML-N administration.

Residents say that since then, their pleas have gone unheard. They say the section of the Canal Road from Harbanspura to Jallo Mor becomes a bottleneck, especially for the traffic coming from the Mall Road side.

The PML-N’s return to power in Punjab after the 2024 elections raised hopes that the project would finally be revived. But the government has cited financial constraints, stating that funds are being spent on other development schemes, which are a priority.

The affected residents, however, believe that political neglect is at the heart of the issue. “There’s no shortage of funds when it comes to building roads in elite housing societies or model towns,” says Syed Asif Ahmad, a daily commuter. “But when it comes to the housing societies along this particular stretch, the excuse of limited resources is always put forward.”

The gravity of the situation can be measured by the fact that police squad vehicles remain deployed at the small bridges near Sahafi Colony and other neighbouring societies to ensure the smooth passage of the VIPs.

“If traffic has to be controlled every day for the VIPs, you just imagine what the common people go through here without such arrangements,” a resident remarks.

Shopkeepers and small traders along the stretch also complain that the chronic traffic mess has hurt business activity. Customers avoid stopping near such colonies due to traffic congestion, while delivery vehicles face frequent delays.

“The entire commercial activity in this belt is slowing down because of the road problem,” says Farhan Aziz, who runs a general store in the area.

Civil society activists argue that the expansion of this section of the Canal Road is no longer a matter of convenience but a necessity. With a growing population in the Harbanspura area, including the Lahore Press Club Housing Scheme (known as Sahafi Colony), Hajvery Housing Scheme and Lahore Medical and Dental College Housing Scheme, the pressure on the narrow bridge has far exceeded its capacity.

Residents have urged the Punjab government to immediately revive and execute the stalled project, warning that further delay will only worsen the situation. For now, though, the daily commute for thousands of motorists using the road stretch remains a test of patience, with no clear timeline for provision of relief to them.

An officer of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) contacted by Dawn said the financial estimate to resolve this issue had been submitted to the quarters concerned a couple of times. “But the senior officials concerned in LDA were of the view that the project should be funded by Punjab government.

However, we will again submit this estimate with the appropriate forum for approval, keeping in view the difficulties being faced by people since long,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2026