Commercial areas of Rawalpindi city, cantonment overtaken by encroachers; residents demand immediate remedy
Almost all the main commercial areas of Rawalpindi city and cantonment have been taken over by encroachers, as shopkeepers and vendors are occupying most of the footpaths and parking areas, hampering smooth flow of traffic and pedestrians.
The irony is that encroachers in connivance with officials of the civic bodies have set up their stalls on almost all roads of the main markets in the city. The situation is worse in Gawalmandi, Raja Bazaar and its adjacent marketsincluding Iqbal Road, Liaquat Market, College Road, Liaquat Road, Kalaan, Urdu, and Mochi bazaars, Jinnah Road, Jamia Masjid Road, BanniMarket, Kashmiri and Narankari Bazaars, Namak Mandi, Gunjmandi andother areas.
The encroachments in cantonment areas are also on the rise as Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment officials are unable to get this genie back into the bottle due to shortage of staff.
Encroachments in different areas including Saddar Bazaar, Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Chungi No 22, Dhoke Syedan Chowk and other areas have become one of the biggest problems not only for the motorists, but also for the area residents. While the officials concerned are not taking any action.
Residents told APP that encroachment is the main reasonbehind traffic jams, as the encroachers occupy almost half of theroad. In case of Gawalmandi and other areas, the mechanics have occupied the road and undertaking repair of the vehicles along the road side. This is not only hampering the flow of traffic but alsorisking the lives of young students, who have to walk down to school.
When contacted the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rawalpindi said he had just taken office and would look into the situation. When APP approached Additional CEO Shakil Anwar Jappa, he refused totalk on the matter, after an hour-long wait.
Tariq, a resident of over-congested Peoples Colony in Tench Bhatta, said that one could see traffic mess in his area and itwas only because of encroachers, who occupy both sides of the road with their carts and leave no space for parking of vehicles and movement of traffic. This often leads to nerve breaking traffic jams too.
He said the Cantonment high ups should visit the area during rush hours to see the ground situation and provide relief to the agonizing residents.
An anti encroachment official of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board claimed that they pay surprise visits to remove the encroachers from roads and also impose fine on them, but they re-appear immediately after paying the fine. He said they were trying their best to overcome the issue.
The encroachers have set up their regular businesses not only on the footpaths, but also set up kiosks and stalls in the open spaces in parking areas.
Similarly, Bank Road and Kashmir Road in Saddar, the biggest shopping centre in cantonment area, are the most affected. Almost all the footpaths are in the hold of different vendors who carry out their business of watches, goggles, leather belts and purses, garments and edibles. Likewise, similar stalls could be witnessed along Haider Road.
In other vicinities like Hathi Chowk , Chota Bazaar,Nishter Street, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Road, Massy Gate and HospitalRoad, the encroachments have made it difficult for pedestrians tomove.
The residents are also facing a similar situation inresidential areas like Gawalmandi, Aahata Mithu Khan, Adamjee Road,Dhoke Rata Road and Transit Camp. These workshops have encroached upon most of the footpaths.
In RawalTown, several roads which were widened enough for smooth flow of traffic are now under the control of the encroachers. Murree Road and its service roads mainly Circular Road has fully been encroached, where motorcycles are parked onboth sides of the road and the encroachers have occupied a wide areaalong the road.
Free hand has also been given to the encroachers in severalother roads like Sadiqabad, Kuri Road, Stadium Road, National Market,Khayaban-e-Sir-Syed, Pindora Road, Dhoke Khabba, Tippu Road and otherroads.
The problem also creates noise and air pollution. Faisal, a resident of College Road said that the encroachers have occupied both sides of the road and left no space for parking in the bazaar or even walkways for pedestrians. “The authorities concerned should come up with an effective and honest strategy to remove encroachments,” he suggested.
The citizens have urged the authorities to take strict action against the shopkeepers, vendors and fruit and vegetable handcart owners that are creating hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic, leadingto trouble for the residents.
Sardar Tashfeen TMO Rawal Town said they have launched avigorous campaign to rid the main bazaars of the city and said the policy of returning the confiscated goods has been shelved asaccording to him the exercise was proving to be futile as the bazaars and various localities were becoming inaccessible due tosprawling encroachment mafia.
The TMO said in the recent campaign they have confiscated more than 150 truck-load of goods and these would not be returned by receiving the imposed fine.
Similarly the residents of Adiala Road and adjoining areas have demanded of the TMOPotoharTown and District Cordination Officer to check ever increasing encroachments along the road,which is fast becoming a hub of encroachers. The residents of Askari7, 13, and 14 who move along the area demanded of the Station Commander to check the growing nuisance.
