RAWALPINDI: The district administration on Tuesday launched anti-encroachment drive to clear permanent encroachments on footpaths along Murree Road.

Assistant Commissioner Hakim Khan visited the site and supervised the drive. In the first phase, the left side of Murree Road from Liaquat Bagh to Chandani chowk was cleared of encroachments.

“We will clear the illegal sheds on footpaths to maintain the building line and in this regard, more than a dozen illegal structures were razed. Under this drive, the district administration and Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation will remove illegal structure on right side of Murree Road on Wednesday (today),” he said.

He said in the second phase, footpaths, verandas and roadsides in Commercial market Satellite Town would be cleared of encroachmentsand then we will move to Raja Bazaar and other areas.

He said traders association had been asked to help the district administration make the anti-encroachment drive a success as it would increase the people influx in these bazaars who, at present, avoid to visit in the absence of walking or parking space.

He said that new plan to clear footpaths and roadsides from encroachment will improve the traffic flow on the main roads. He said lists had been made to streamline the building lines on main roads and remove illegal commercial activities in residential areas along main roads.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) also started clearing encroachments in areas under its administrative control.

According to the spokesperson of RDA, the RDA will take strict action against illegal constructions and encroachments set up in violation of the Punjab Development of Cities Act 1976 and RDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2020.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2024