PESHAWAR, March 22: The Cantonment Board has replaced the green belt on both sides of the Mall, destroying beauty of the road, in order to explore more sources of revenue to meet its expenditures.

The board officials argued that the road had become so narrow that it could not handle the routine vehicular traffic during rush hours.

They had decided to incorporate the green belt into the road as it was the main artery which facilitated VVIP movement from airport to the Garrison area, Governor’s House and Frontier House.

The project being funded by the board would cost Rs30 million. The road will be widened by about twelve feet.

Under the plan, the road would be expanded from the Combined Military Hospital to the Garrison Officer Club.

The green zone on both sides of the road would be converted into parking area to enhance revenue of the board, said an official.

He said that trees on both sides of the road would not be removed.

Interestingly, the board authorities had rehabilitated footpaths on The Mall about two years ago which would be removed causing financial loss to the national exchequer.

The provincial capital is losing its greenery gradually due to unplanned construction and rapid population growth.

Earlier the defunct Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) had razed green zone along the railway track for the expansion of road and construction of intersection at the Rehman Baba Square.