RAWALPINDI, July 28: A digital city planning will be carried out for solving various problems being faced by the citizens on permanent grounds.

In this regard, all bus terminals will be remodelled and developed while heavy fines will be imposed on those who indulge in wall-chalking or display illegal signboards, banners and posters.

The decision to this effect was taken by the chairman of the task force for beautification of big cities in the province, Sardar Azam Rashid, here on Monday while presiding over a meeting at the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to review the beautification plan of the city.

RDA officials, district Nazim Tariq Kiani, tehsil Nazim Hamid Nawaz along with officials of the revenue and other concerned departments were also present.

For carrying out the digital planning, a locality, most probably Aria Mohallah, will be selected for the pilot project, which will be executed by the RDA. Citing numerous problems being faced by the city due to lack of a flawless planning, Mr Rashid and Mr Kiani lamented that digital planning of the city should have been executed three or four years ago.

They said funds would be arranged for the project after RDA completed the pilot project.

According to a survey report presented in the meeting, between 50 and 60 per cent commercial advertisements displayed through signboards and banners in the city were illegal. The meeting decided that the responsible individuals/organizations would be fined Rs10,000 for displaying illegal banners and posters and Rs20,000 for indulging in wall-chalking.

An action committee was formed for removing all illegal signboards in the city, while another team was constituted for removing random signboards and banners from all commercial plazas. The display of new commercial advertisements was also banned.

It was decided that no plan of any building would be approved without demarcating sufficient area for parking. Besides, all public parks would be provided power through solar energy plants for saving electricity.

The meeting decided to launch a number of projects in Dhamial, including establishment of a business development centre for the promotion of Punjabi and Potohari handicrafts on five kanals of land, with the financial assistance of the provincial government; construction of a dinosaur park, and arrangement of an industrial exhibition, named exhibition city of Punjab.

For the implementation of the master plan on the beautification of the city, a beautification and horticulture cell was also formed under the chairmanship of the district Nazim. A one-window committee was also established which will hear the problems faced by various committees constituted for the beautification drive.

The RDA director metropolitan and traffic engineering, Makeen Shahbaz, was asked to conduct a survey before preparing a final plan for the development of all bus terminals. The district Nazim said all the stakeholders, including transporters and the Regional Transport Authority, would be taken into confidence before the launch of any development project for bus terminals. He said the project should be revenue-oriented for the RDA.

Earlier, Mr Shahbaz presented various plans, including the construction of traditional gates on Murree Road near Faizabad and Mir Chowk points, the setting up of a food street at the Committee Chowk, building of decorated walls on either side of Nullah Leh, remodelling of the Sixth Road Chowk, rehabilitation of the remaining portion of Liaquat Bagh and erecting of monuments in front of Shamsabad Park and the Survey of Pakistan building.

Mr Shahbaz also presented some designs for bringing changes to the present public lavatory system, including those in public parks.

Mr Rashid directed the RDA officials to point out other bridges over the Nullah Leh which needed reconstruction apart from the three under-construction bridges.