RAWALPINDI: Commissioner Rawalpindi, Engineer Aamir Khattak, took strict notice of a complaint regarding the longstanding issue of illegal bus stands and encroachments in and around Pirwadhai bus stand and directed the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation to promptly resolve this matter, which has been causing severe inconvenience to the public.

The commissioner said that government institutions are meant to provide convenience to the public, so officials should use all resources to provide relief to the people within their jurisdiction.

He said that the most effective solution to the chronic issue of traffic jams in Rawalpindi is the elimination of encroachments, for which a comprehensive strategy should be devised by taking local traders onboard so that it has a lasting effect.

He directed the provision of all necessary facilities at the general bus stand. If some portion of the earnings from General Bus Stand are invested in it, we can provide the best travel facilities to the passengers, he said.

In light of Commissioner Rawalpindi’s instructions, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation Chief Municipal Officer, along with his team, took action and removed encroachments as well as illegal bus stands, however a permanent solution is required to address this issue.

According to the details, work was undertaken recently to prepare parking for buses at a general bus stand called Idle Park, due to which the flow of buses was affected, leading to congestion on exit and entrance pathways.

Some transporters were taking advantage of it and trying to use pathways as bus bays.On which, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation officer with his team took action and warned that shopkeepers, if found involved in such illegal actions, may face the cancellation of their shops.

He said that the general bus stand has been built for the convenience of the people and as an add-on to revenue. The purpose of renovating it is to provide the best facilities to the passengers, and no lapse will be tolerated in this regard.

It may be mentioned here that in the last two years, six commissioners have changed, and after getting charge of the administrator of RMC, they directed to upgrade the facilities in Pirwadhai General Bus Stand, but no work was launched.

In 2020, former Commissioner Capt. (R) Mohammad Mehmood allocated Rs 60 million for the park. He also made plans to install Close Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in the general busstand and to construct waiting rooms for the passengers.

However, the same plan was announced during the first visit of former Commissioners Gulzar Hussain Shah, Noorul Amin Mengal, Saqib Manan, and Liaquat Ali Chatha. And, with the arrival of new commissioner Aamir Khattak in the offices of RMC, he also gave directives to improve the condition of general bus stands and end illegal bus stands.

The general bus stand is spread over 207 kanals. It has 36 buses, two petrol filling stations, 800 shops, four hotels, one canteen, two banks, a police checkpost, and a post office. RMC is earning more than Rs100 million from the rent and entry fee of buses. In the late 1970s, the general bus stand was constructed on the directives of then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2024