While authorities played the role of silent spectators, encroachments in different localities of Rawalpindi became one of the biggest problems for residents.
Encroachments contributed to the traffic mess and troubled pedestrians in many areas of the city and of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, including Chungi No 22, Bakra Mandi, Lalkurti, Dheri Hassanabad, Tench Bazaar and Dhoke Syedan Chowk.
Residents of the area said the encroachment were the main reason behind traffic jams because encroachers virtually occupy half of the roads.
“The motorists and pedestrians were facing immense problems because of the encroachers,” he said.
They urged that the concerned authorities should play an effective role to remove these encroachers from the roads for the smooth flow of traffic.
Imtiaz Sohail, a resident of Tench Bhatta, said the traffic mess in their area was only because of the encroachers, as they occupied both sides of the road with their carts, leaving no space for parking.
“Officials visit the area early in the morning, and after encroachers occupy the roads for rest of the day,” he said.
Khuram, a motorist, said that it was very difficult to cross Chungi No 22 during the peak hours because the encroachers made it virtually impossible for the motorists to drive smoothly.
Officials claimed they paid surprise visits to remove encroachers from roads and imposed fine on them, but encroachments reappeared soon after the operation and paying the fines.