Punjab plans model roads to enforce lane discipline in major cities

LAHORE: The Punjab government has finalised a strategy to enforce lane and line discipline in major cities, with plans to turn major roads into model roads under stricter traffic management.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, where officials briefed participants on the traffic situation across the province.

According to officials, the plan includes a multi-pronged strategy aimed at improving compliance with traffic rules, easing congestion and strengthening road safety measures on key urban roads.

Technology-based monitoring

As part of the initiative, vehicles fitted with cameras will be deployed to continuously monitor lane violations and overall traffic behaviour on major arteries. Officials said the use of technology is intended to support consistent enforcement and reduce human discretion in traffic policing.

The briefing also shared enforcement figures from the past six months. Officials said traffic police had issued more than 500,000 challans during that period and impounded over 100,000 vehicles.

Despite those actions, the chief minister voiced concern over continuing traffic disorder in urban centres, especially Lahore, where lane violations and irregular driving patterns remain a persistent issue.

Action against zigzag driving

Meeting participants also agreed to take strict action against motorcyclists involved in zigzag driving. Officials described the practice as a common cause of road accidents.

The proposed model roads initiative is part of the provincial government’s broader effort to improve traffic management in major cities by combining enforcement with closer monitoring of road use.

Officials said the focus would remain on major arteries, where lane discipline and adherence to traffic lines are being prioritised under the new strategy.

The meeting was told that the government wants stricter implementation of traffic rules through a system that relies more heavily on monitoring technology while addressing unsafe driving behaviour that contributes to congestion and accidents.