RAWALPINDI: Traffic on Murree Road, the main artery of the garrison city, at 6th Road Square, has been halted for the last three days as new water supply lines are being laid by the Punjab local government, causing problems for motorists.

The slow pace of work has caused numerous issues for residents of adjoining localities who use that route, especially during rainy days.

The Punjab government’s local government launched work to address water shortages in the garrison city under the Punjab Intermediate City Improvement Investment (PICII) programme and Developing Resilient Environment and Advancing Municipal Services (Dreams-I), funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Under this project, costing Rs4.5 billion, an additional pipeline is being laid from Rawal Dam to Hailey Water Works, commonly known as Kali Tanki and Chitti Tanki on Saidpur Road, to supply an extra 5 million gallons per day (MGD).

The work commenced in August 2023, but the water supply line has yet to be laid, and the dug-up road has created problems for residents. All the main educational institutions, including Women’s University, Government Boys and Girls Colleges, are located on this road, and students and staff face difficulties travelling.

Trenches approximately six feet deep and two feet wide have been dug up, remaining unfilled for the past three days, and all traffic heading towards 6th Road and 5th Road from Murree Road has been halted. The local government was expected to resolve residents’ problems, but it has ironically failed to fill the trenches.

Traffic from Faizabad onto the slip road along the 6th Road flyover now has to divert to Chandani Chowk, then make a U-turn to access 6th Road, Iran Road, Dhoke Paracha, and 5th Road. This has caused severe congestion, particularly around Chandani Chowk. During the rains, the area becomes almost impassable.

Residents of neighbouring localities voiced their frustrations, saying that the slow pace of work by the authorities annoyed the public, especially school children and office workers. They added that the civic body initially dug up 6th Road and had now closed Murree Road along the 6th Road flyover. They said that instead of completing the work in a night, the contractor took three days to close the main road.

Bilal Abbasi, a resident of Data Gunjbux Road, said that the residents of the area are facing numerous problems due to the ongoing work on the road for the last many months, especially for children to venture out, which has become a risky affair.

Akram Raja, an agitated resident of Satellite Town Block-D, stated, “We can’t cross the road, and during the rainy days we prefer to stay at home.” He further added that the pits and trenches not only endanger two-wheelers but also pedestrians.

Due to the poor condition of the road, it is difficult for us to earn money as few customers visit the place, said Sajjad Shah, a shopkeeper of the adjoining plaza. Another shop owner, Haider Naqvi, complained that only a few customers visited his place.

When contacted, Umer Farooq, spokesman for the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), said that the local government is executing the Dreams-I project, which will eventually be handed over to Wasa upon completion. He emphasised the importance of the project in increasing water supply by five million gallons daily from Rawal Dam, which will improve supplies in the upcoming summer.

Farooq explained that they are aware of the problems caused by the roadworks but stressed that connecting the main supply line from Rawal Dam on Murree Road to Hailey Water Works at Saidpur Road was essential. He expressed hope that the work on Murree Road would be completed by Wednesday, with full completion within ten days, alleviating residents’ hardships.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2026