Pedestrians and motorists are facing acute problems on account of encroachments, massive traffic and rush of the vendors carrying out small business activities near Faizabad Flyover on Murree Road. The encroachers have occupied the roadside and footpath, leaving very little space for pedestrians and motorists.
The removal of encroachments from Murree Road near the Faizabad Flyover, where vendors and hawkers continue to erect encroachments along the road, has become almost impossible. The vendors carry out their small business activities on the footpaths of Faizabad bus stop near the flyover and cause a great deal of inconvenience to the people.
The road near the Faizabad Flyover is also in a dilapidated condition and needs to be carpeted.
The growing encroachments have not only marred the beauty of the locality but are also creating hardships for the pedestrians and motorists who have to visit the area frequently. Jasim Khan, a pedestrian, told Pakistan Today that he had to pass through the flyover daily while the massive encroachments had made it difficult for him to enter the area.
He added these encroachers also threw their remaining stuff on the road, which looked like heaps of garbage. Shaukat Khan said he had set up a stall at a footpath for he could not afford a high rent of a shop. While justifying his illegal practice, Khan said, “I also have to earn bread for my family. I have set up my stall in this area because I had no other space to do business.”
He demanded the authorities provide to him shelter to run his business in a respectable way. Munawar, a vendor, said he knew the setting up of a stall on the road was illegal, but there was no other way to support his family. Replying to question if the authorities had taken any action against them, he said: “The anti-encroachment authorities carry out an operation after every a week or two after which we run from the place and come back again. Hamid, a motorist, said the encroachers had occupied the area while the authorities concerned seemed the least interested in curbing them.
“In addition to the encroachments, most of the people park their vehicles even on the roadside, which causes traffic jams and sometimes accidents,” he lamented. When contacted, an official of the anti-encroachment department of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said they often carried out anti-encroachment operations, but after a couple of days the encroachers again occupied these places.
He sought cooperation from the general public and traders to eradicate the encroachments from the area.
