GUJRANWALA, Oct 7: Residents and shopkeepers along the GT Road from Rawalpindi By-pass Chowk to Gondlanwala Chowk have expressed concern over the demolition of their properties by the district administration without paying them any compensation.

The administration has awarded a contract to the FWO for the construction of service roads and drains along the highway. For the purpose, it has allocated an amount of Rs100 million.

The FWO demolished almost all filling stations and some other buildings located between Rawalpindi By-pass Chowk to Gondlanwala Chowk on either side of the road. The process of razing boundary walls of houses and various government departments is continuing.

The newly-constructed block of the Trust Plaza housing 29 shops and a mosque built by the Gujranwala Development Authority (GDA) will also be demolished. The foundation of the drain has already been laid down at the new block. The GDA had collected Rs43.5 million from the shopkeepers while 70 per cent construction work of the plaza has already been completed.

Citizens demanded the authorities concerned that the size of the service road and the drain should be reduced so that their properties could be saved.