Lahore Gets Smarter Roads: Tepa Rolls Out Pelican Signals on 20 Spots

Lahore's traffic can test anyone's patience. But change is coming. Tepa, the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency, plans to add modern pelican signals to 20 key roads. This setup boosts safety for walkers and smooths out car flow. It follows a test run on Mall Road that worked well. The first wave brings European-style tech, like video cameras spotting cars and a central control hub watching everything live.

LED lights at crosswalks will light up for safer crossing. The whole thing ties into the city's Smart City setup to track and study traffic patterns. Signals respond to demand, so they cut wait times and ease jams. It's part of a bigger government effort for a better, greener city movement in Lahore.

What Are Pelican Signals and Why Lahore Needs Them

Pelican signals let people on foot push a button to cross. The light turns red for cars only when needed. No more endless waits or risky dashes. In busy Lahore, where cars, bikes, and rickshaws mix, this matters.

Old signals often ignore walkers. People cross anyway, leading to accidents. Tepa wants to fix that. The new system uses sensors and cameras to spot vehicles in real time. It adjusts lights to keep things moving. And it promotes lane rules, which could reduce chaos on roads.

Lahore deals with heavy traffic daily. Congestion costs time and fuel. Pollution adds up, too. Safer crossings mean fewer mishaps. The pilot on Mall Road showed quicker flow and happier pedestrians. Now, expanding it makes sense.

Key Locations Getting the Upgrade

Tepa picked spots that see the most action. Think GPO Chowk, High Court Chowk, and Shimla Pahari Chowk. Others include Bhati Gate Chowk, Data Darbar Chowk, and Chowk Nakhuda.

Azadi Chowk, Badami Bagh Chowk, and Bhatti Chowk are on the list. So are Kashmir Road Chowk, Railway Station Chowk, and Chowburji Chowk. Scheme Mor Chowk, Yateem Khana Chowk, and Model Town Mor Chowk follow.

Ichhra Mor Chowk, Jinnah Hospital Chowk, Qurtaba Chowk, Jail Road Underpass Chowk, Ferozepur Road Chowk, and Canal Road Junction near Harbanspura round it out. Fortress Stadium gets a nod, too.

These are high-traffic hubs. Upgrades here could ripple out, easing drives across the city.

How the System Works Day to Day

Picture this: You approach a crossing. Push a button. The signal checks traffic. If clear, it stops cars and lights up LEDs on the zebra stripes. You cross safely.

Behind the scenes, video tech detects cars. A central control room monitors feeds. It tweaks timings based on flow. Integration with the Safe Cities Authority means quick fixes for issues.

Data gets recorded. Analysts spot patterns, like rush hour peaks. Over time, this refines the setup. It's smart tech making roads predictable.

For drivers, shorter stops mean less idling. Walkers feel secure. The demand-based part balances both sides. No empty red lights wasting time.

Benefits for Safety and the Environment

Safety tops the list. Lahore sees too many pedestrian accidents. Lit crosswalks at night cut risks. Real-time monitoring spots problems fast, like broken lights.

Traffic flows better, so fewer jams. That means less stress on commutes. Fuel savings add up for everyone.

On the green side, smoother roads cut emissions. Idling cars pollute more. This ties into Lahore's air quality push. Sustainable mobility isn't just talk—it's action.

The government approved this via the Punjab Cabinet. It shows commitment to modern cities. Lahore could set an example for other spots in Pakistan.

Possible Challenges Ahead

No project is perfect. Installation might disrupt traffic in the short term. Workers need to handle that carefully.

Tech relies on power. Outages could glitch things. Backup systems would help.

Public buy-in matters. People must use buttons and follow lanes. Awareness campaigns could teach that.

Cost is another angle. But long-term savings from fewer accidents and better flow justify it.

Tepa plans a phased rollout. Starting with these 20 keeps it manageable.

What This Means for Lahore's Future

Lahore grows fast. More people, more vehicles. Smart systems like this prepare for that.

If successful, expansions could follow. Other cities might copy. It's a step to safer, more efficient urban life.

Residents, watch for updates. Tepa might share timelines soon. In the meantime, drive safely.

This upgrade reflects a shift. From reactive fixes to proactive tech. Lahore's roads could feel European soon.

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