RAWALPINDI: The slow pace of work on the pedestrian street and the beautification of Raja Bazaar by the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has caused numerous problems for visitors who suffer on a daily basis.

The civic body dug up the road from Fawara Chowk to Hamilton Road, the main commercial hub of the garrison city, making it difficult for commuters and pedestrians and causing inconvenience to residents.

Those driving two- or four-wheelers on this route are the worst affected. They find it difficult to pass Fawara Chowk due to the poor condition of the road.

On Jinnah Road, Liaquat Road, Iqbal Road, Kashmiri Bazaar and Ganjmandi, severe traffic jams are witnessed.

Traders, visitors lament dug-up roads, traffic chaos and months-long delays by civic body

The road was dug up to carry out the over Rs400 million project for road reconstruction and the construction of footpaths under the Pedestrian Street and Beautification project aimed at improving the commercial hub.

Visitors to Raja Bazaar expressed their frustration and said the slow pace of work by the relevant authorities had irked the public, especially office goers.

They suggested that the civic body should speed up the work.

Mohammad Anser, a visitor, said people were facing numerous problems due to the digging of the road, as many of them used this route to reach Pirwadhai and Jamia Masjid Road.

Imtiaz Ahmed said, “It is impossible for us to cross the road as the pits and trenches pose danger for pedestrians.” He added that people were avoiding Raja Bazaar due to the ongoing construction work.

“Due to the bad condition of the road, it is difficult for us to use the alternate Sabzi Mandi Road and Sarafa Bazaar Road because of traffic congestion,” said Ali Raza, a shopkeeper in Madina Market.

Another shop owner, Abbas Raza, complained that very few customers were visiting and shopkeepers were also facing problems reaching their shops.

When contacted, Rawalpindi Traders Association President Sharjeel Mir said the municipal corporation had given the wrong idea of converting the main Raja Bazaar into a vehicle-free zone, which he said was not possible.

“To underground electricity wires, Iesco and the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation have dug up the roads for the last two months and the work is still not completed,” he said, adding business activity had declined as people did not want to visit the bazaar with pits and trenches everywhere.

He said all the wholesale markets were located in Raja Bazaar, Ganjmandi and Hamilton Road and there was a dire need for loading and unloading of goods. If the civic body converted the area into a vehicle-free zone, he asked, how would traders bring goods and transport them to Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan markets?

RMC Chief Municipal Officer Imran Ali was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts. However, a senior official said the road construction work would be completed as soon as possible. He said the roads were dug to lay underground electric and cable wires, so the work would take time.

He added that arrangements had been made to reduce inconvenience to the public. He said there was a need to improve the condition of all roads, and once completed, visitors would get better facilities.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2025