Lahore bans loader rickshaws on major roads to ensure public safety

LAHORE: Lahore Traffic Police have banned loader rickshaws from entering some of the City’s main roads, like The Mall, Jail Road, Canal Road, Gulberg Main Boulevard, and Cantonment areas.

The Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Amara Athar, said that rickshaws carrying dangerous items such as iron rods, steel pipes, T-iron bars, and bamboo will no longer just be fined, but their drivers will now face legal action.

She explained that the growing number of loader rickshaws carrying unsafe materials is a serious danger to others on the road. Over 11,000 rickshaw drivers have already been fined for violations, but now stricter rules are being applied.

A crackdown will focus on overloaded and unsafe vehicles, and those caught will face FIRs (First Information Reports) instead of fines.

According to The News, the traffic police also mentioned that both the drivers and the owners of these rickshaws will be named in the FIRs if they exceed the load limits.

Drivers who keep overloading their vehicles could even lose their licences. Special checkpoints have been set up on roads like Allama Iqbal Road, GT Road, Multan Road, Ferozepur Road, and in Shahdara to monitor the situation.

Traffic officers will inspect headlights, backlights, reflectors, and indicators of these vehicles to ensure they meet safety standards. The CTO also said that PSCA cameras will be used to help with the crackdown on unsafe vehicles.

Extra officers, including eight senior wardens and 24 wardens, have been placed at the City’s entry and exit points to make sure the campaign is effective.

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