The encroachments in Rawal Town are on the rise as Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) is unable to put this genie back into the bottle.
In most parts of the city, the citizens can’t find an appropriate space for parking their vehicles at commercial centers. Pedestrians face difficulty in their movement due to increasing encroachments on both sides of roads in Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Raja Bazaar, Bohar Bazaar, Jinnah Road, Commercial Market, Trunk Bazaar, Dhoke Khabba, Dhoke Farman Ali and some other localities.
The encroachers are openly doing their business without any fear of the TMA enforcement staff.
One can observe the traffic jams in many areas just because of the encroachments. The citizens told APP that encroachment is the main reason behind traffic jams as they occupy almost half of the road. Not only the motorists but also the pedestrians are facing lot of problems because of the encroachers.” The concerned authorities should play their effective role to remove these encroachers from the roads for smooth flow of traffic,” they urged.
Tariq, a shopper said that one could see the traffic mess in saddar and Raja Bazaar and this is only because of the encroachers, as they occupy both sides of the road with their carts and left no space for parking that causes 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.
In many areas the vendors have encroached the roadsides by setting up their kiosks and stalls. This phenomenon could be observed in many commercial areas of the city. The vendors have set up permanent stalls on both sides of the road. Almost all footpaths are in the hold of different vendors, who carry out their business of watches, glasses, leather belts, purses, garments, food and other items.
Commuters demand adjustment of transport fares : The citizens belonging to various walks of life have deplored the Punjab Transport Authority (PTA) and said that though the PTA has decreased Re 1 to Rs 2 in fare of public transport plying on various routes but no considerable relief was given to poor masses particularly commuters despite reasonable cut in the prices of petroleum products and CNG.
They expressed their concern over the revised transport fares under which the Secretary PTA has issued notification that gives Re1 reduction on stop to stop ride while Rs2 for the long distance ride. The order has been implemented with immediate effect. The citizens urged Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to take notice of the matter to provide relief to the public.
They demanded the authorities concerned to adjust transport fares according to CNG prices and relief should be provided to the commuters. The citizens also urged the authorities concerned including Commissioner Rawalpindi division and District Coordination Officer (DCO) Rawalpindi that they should protect the citizens interest as the local transporters are charging exorbitant fares as compared to other cities of the province.
Vice President Help Forum Chuahdary Nisar and others including Chaudhary Qasir Hayat, Dr. Niaz Akmal, Irshad ul Haq, President Al-Akhouat, Sanaullah Akhtar, Muhammad Ali, Nadeem Ahmed of Sahour Foundation, President Aman Welfare Society Begum Azra Gulzar, Syed Ataf Gillani, students Naveed Sharif, Muhammad Aslam, Samia Naz, Fouzia, Samira, Jamila and representatives of social, political and business groups expressed their concern on the issue.
“Transporters charge fares according to the petrol prices but on pretext of CNG closer days, most of the public transporters avoid plying their vehicles and those who operate, never complete their routes,” complaint the commuters.
