RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has decided to construct another parking plaza on the land vacated by Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) at Fawwara Chowk.

The first parking plaza in the vicinity, built by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), runs out of space during peak hours as it can accommodate only 1,000 vehicles at a time.

Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) owned the land on City Saddar Road which has been lying vacant after shifting of its offices to new complex on Liaquat Road in 2004.

At present, the RMC is earning Rs5 million per annum by giving the land measuring 13 kanals and 11 marlas on contract for Suzuki van and wagon stand.

The previous PML-N government had made three attempts to sell the land of the former RMC offices and other adjoining property.

Keeping in view the parking issues in main bazaars and after the demand of the traders and local residents, the PTI government asked the local administration to find new sites for parking plazas.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood presented a proposal to the Punjab government to construct parking cum commercial plaza at this land on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

The commissioner confirmed to Dawn that they were going to construct another parking plaza in the city area where the visitors and the shopkeepers could park their vehicles without any problem. Besides, it would ease traffic on roads.

He said: “Initially, we will construct basement for warehouses, ground floor for shops and three floors will be reserved for the parking of vehicles. More than 1,000 vehicles will be accommodated on each floor.

“We will open a restaurant on the rooftop of the building to offer traditional food items to the people. The tourists will get the pictures of the city especially historical Raja Bazaar from the rooftop of the plaza.”

Replying to a question, he said investors had expressed their willingness to construct the plaza on BOT basis.

He said that there was a dire need to construct another parking plaza in the area to accommodate vehicles parked on main roads. He said that more than 60,000 vehicles came to Raja Bazaar daily.

The commissioner said they wanted to construct two or three more parking plazas in other commercial areas of Rawalpindi.

He said he had visited a site on Katchery Chowk, which wpuld be finalised in coming days.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2020