RAWALPINDI: Traffic jams in Raja Bazaar and adjoining markets have become the order of the day, exposing the casual attitude of the local administration and the Rawal Town Municipal Administration (RTMA) towards the inconvenience to the citizens.

The situation has deteriorated following the initiation of the metro bus project on Murree Road.

The City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) and the RTMA have turned a blind eye to the issue despite clear directives from the Punjab government to remove encroachments from roads.

Liaquat Road, which connects Murree Road with Fawara Chowk, has shrunk to just eight to nine feet due to the encroachments by shopkeepers and vendors.

The 70-foot-wide Iqbal Road – from Committee Chowk to Fawara Chowk - is also unable to accommodate vehicles due to the encroachments. The 90-foot-wide Raja Bazaar Road from Fawara Chowk to Dingi Khoi and Kashmiri Bazaar and City Saddar Road also present the picture of narrow streets.

During the construction of the metro bus track over Murree Road, the city government never launched any campaign to remove the hurdles and provide alternative roads to the motorists.

“All the requests to remove the traffic congestion have fallen on deaf ears as the RTMA and CDGR officials remain unmoved,” said Mohammad Karim, a resident of Usmanpura near Bara Market.

He said he visited the district coordination office twice but the DCO was not available. “I also tried to contact the Rawal Town administrator but he was always busy.”

“Traffic jams have become an order of the day. It is difficult to reach Fawara Chowk from Murree Road in 30 minutes,” said Malik Usman, a resident of Naya Mohallah.

He said the metro bus project had added to the difficulties of the people.

Another resident of the area, Sarwar Shah, said half of Iqbal Road had been encroached by vendors and shopkeepers.

PPP local leader Nasir Mir told Dawn that it was difficult to enter the city areas. Once you enter Raja Bazaar, three to four hours are wasted on the roads.

PTI MPA Arif Abbasi said the solution to the mess lied in the local government elections. “The bureaucracy and PML-N government have failed to improve situation.”

Published in Dawn, November 16th , 2014