LAHORE: The recently installed light emitting diode (LED) screens on the city’s main roads have started a controversy between the Traffic Police and the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).
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he Traffic Police have strongly objected to the PHA’s not seeking permission before installing these LED screens. The Traffic Police officials said that if they had been taken into confidence, they could have helped the PHA in defining areas to avoid accidents.
The PHA was likely to install 25 LED screens on The Mall, the Canal, Kalma Chowk, Defence Housing Authority, Jail Road, Park Lane, Gulberg, Cavalry Grounds and Cantt.
Muneer Zia, a traffic warden, said, “Entertainment is good, but after the installation of these LED screens, it has become difficult for us to control drivers and pedestrians whose eyes pop out of their heads.” On Monday, he said, a bicycle rider was hit by a car because the car driver’s eyes were glued to the screen. He said that these screens should be switched off during peak hours.
Traffic Superintendent of Police Ghulam Muhammad Dogar told Daily Times that the LED screens were a hurdle. He said, “We were not informed before these screens were installed.”
Parks and Horticulture Authority Marketing Officer Sohail Bhatti said that the Traffic Police had approved the LED screens in a meeting that was held on December 31. The Traffic Police, Traffic Engineering and Planning Authority, environment and advertising representatives were present in the meeting.
