Entry fees at the Fortress stadium
Either one wants to go for a business meeting with a client or for routine shopping or anything else ,one ends up paying a fee for the entry at the Fortress stadium.Fortress Stadium has entered to what can be called the ‘second phase’ of commercialisation in shopping and recreation disricts in lahore.In this phase we will have more of other areas in the city joining the ‘paid area’ bandwagon and vehicles will charges for entering those shopping areas..Such steps from authorities would reduce unncecessary visits by the general public to such areas but will also hurt sales of stores which resulted from impluse buying of people visiting places like Fortress Stadium without any urgent prupose.However in a city starved of entertainment facilities,this will be another blow to the residents ..
Another aspect is the sad but rampant commercialization of the Pakistan Army’s character.
The Fortress Stadium comes under the administrative and custodial control of the cantonment board. As the roads inside the residential blocks of the cantonment become increasingly congested with traffic, continuing with the same logic, would we one day need to pay an entry fee to visit friends and family residing in the cantonment area?
I believe they have done a similar thing in Sialkot as well. Again the area is “ruled” by the army.
By the way how much do you have to pay?
To the best of my knowledge, entry fee is Rs10 for cars, RS5 for motorbikes and Rs2 for bicycles.
Major cities across the world are using this way of reducing unnecessary traffic congestion in their main commercial, shopping or business districts.
It worked well for Central London; Lahore should be better off too!
I have nothing against a paid entry/parking regime provided:
1. it is introduced as a last resort, after all attempts to manage the situation by globally accepted traffic management techniques have been exhausted. This has clearly not been done, and us consumers have to bear the cost of the administrator’s incompetence financially;
2. no profit is being made by the Military, its associated organs or interests. This is not clear.
The point is, if civilians and other Government vehicles are not spared the fees, why ‘arrow’ number plates are!! :x
Here is another concerned citizen’s letter in today’s Daily Times regarding this topic:
Sir: For some weeks now no one can enter Fortress Stadium in Lahore without paying a Rs10 entry fee. Since the stadium land is owned by the army, the decision has clearly been taken by someone in uniform and without any thought to the fact that it clashes with the freedom of movement of the citizens who go to the stadium not just to eat and shop but also to avail banking and other services. It is also not clear who the contract has been given to and what procedures, if any, were followed for awarding it. Could someone please inform the citizens how this has happened and why?
JAY
Lahore Cantt