The encroachments in cantonment area are on the rise as Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) is unable to get this genie back into the bottle due to shortage of staff. Encroachment in different areas of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board including Saddar Bazaar, Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Chungi No 22, Dhoke Syedan Chowk and other areas have become one of the biggest problems being faced not only by motorist, but also the residents of these areas, while the authorities concerned are taking no action.
One can observe the traffic jams in many cantonment areas just because of the encroachments. Residents told APP that encroachment is the main reason behind traffic jams, as they occupy almost half of the road. Not only the motorists, but the pedestrians are also facing lots of problems because of the encroachers.
“The authorities concerned should play their role effectively to remove these encroachers from the roads for smooth flow of traffic,” they urged. Tariq, a resident of Peoples Colony Tench Bhatta, said that one could see the traffic mess in our area and that was only because of the encroachers, as they would occupy both sides of a road with their carts leaving no space for parking and hence causing worst traffic jams. He said the concerned authorities just visit the area in the morning to remove the encroachers whereas the encroachers remain on the road rest of the day after the visit is over.
It is the responsibility of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board to take action against such encroachers, he added. The encroachment officer of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB), when contacted, said they paid surprise visit regularly to remove encroachers from roads and impose fine on them, but the problem recurred.
RCB unable to remove encroachments
