RAWALPINDI: Despite assurance, the National Highway Authority (NHA) failed to complete the repair work on damaged pile and girder on Tuesday while the garrison administration has made a traffic diversion plan for heavy traffic especially vehicles carrying fuel to the city.

The pile and girder of the under construction Soan bridge collapsed on Monday. The worst traffic jam witnessed in the garrison city which cleared late in the night. Though the traffic was less on Tuesday, yet there were reports of shortage of fuel as all the fuel carrying vehicles entered the city and cantonment areas from this entry point.

The light traffic from Rawat to kutchery Chowk and from kutchery Chowk to Rawat is being converted on the old bridge side. The repair work started on the site by the contractor but NHA expressed the hope to complete the task in a day or two.

“Despite holiday, labouerers will continue the repair work on Wednesday on the site,” the NHA spokesperson said, adding the bridge will be repaired as soon as possible.

He said that the inquiry had been launched in the incident and the report would finalise after Eidul Azha. He said that the NHA was the executing agency and it would ensure that the contractor would do the quality work as soon as possible.

On the other hand, heavy traffic especialy fuel carrying vehicles diverted to Islamabad Expressway to enter in the city and cantonment areas.

According to the plan, heavy traffic plying on G.T. Road towards Rawalpindi (from Rawat) diverted towards Islamabad Expressway at T chowk.

The heavy traffic coming from Peshawar towards Rawalpindi to be diverted on I.J.P Road at Chungi No 26.Heavy Traffic bound for Attock Oil Refinery to use old airport, Ammar Chowk, Kutchery Chowk to avoid traffic infront of Ayub Park. Heavy Traffic for Attock Oil Refinery is allowed only from 12:00 night to 6:00 am on specified route.

Traffic police had been asked to coordinate FWO and NLC for traffic management plan for movement of heavy equipment for laying alternate bridge at Soan.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2023