RAWALPINDI: Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has asked the Rawalpindi Development Authority to immediately repair the damage caused by landsliding in the Soan Bus Terminal that has left a PSO pipeline exposed.

According to sources, PSO Sihala installation officials brought the matter to the attention of the RDA director general and cited a previous letter stating that the pipeline running underneath Soan Bus Terminal Road (the old Soan bridge) had been exposed because of landsliding inside the bus terminal.

The exposed pipeline is at great risk, as it could be damaged at any time, they said. A ditch around 25ft deep has formed because of landsliding, which has also swept away half the road. The remainder is still being used by pedestrians and passenger-laden vehicles.

Public transport running on the road could also be dangerous to people’s lives and to the PSO pipeline as well.

The PSO authorities have also reminded the RDA that repairs have not yet been carried out by the lease owner, putting lives and national property at risk. They have asked the director general to act on an urgent basis to avert any untoward situation.

A senior PSO official told Dawn that the RDA director general, city police officer and Morgah station house officer were sent a reminder in September regarding the landsliding and the exposure of the pipeline.

Repairs were started following the PSO’s reminder, which will hopefully be completed soon, he said. He added that the repairs were delayed due to the unavailability of labourers.

The same pipeline ruptured in May near the Soan Bridge due to construction on a new bridge. It caused massive traffic jams on either side of the road.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2018