PESHAWAR, July 3: In order to solve the problem of traffic congestion in different bazaars, the Peshawar Cantonment Board has planned to shift all the automobile mechanic and spare parts shops from the sensitive parts of the cantonment and accommodate them in a separate place within its limits.

“The board has planned to construct a plaza of 400 shops at Shoba Bazaar to accommodate all the mechanics and workshops presently scattered at Fakhre Alam Road, Askari Bank area, Kala Bari, Fawara Chowk and Nauthia,” the board's senior member, Maj (retired) Arshad Mehmood told Dawn .

He said that the plaza would be constructed within three months with an estimated cost of Rs500 million.

Mr Mehmood said that besides a parking plaza would be built at Shafi Market area at a cost of Rs700 million. He said that the plaza would have the capacity for 800 cars and it would be completed in four years.

When asked about the shortage of parking space in the bazaars and violations by owners of the high rise plazas, he said that all the buildings had been constructed before his arrival at the board.

Answering a question, Mr Mehmood said that 30 water filtration plants had been installed so far and 12 more would be installed soon to provide drinking water to the people in the cantonment. He claimed that they were providing clean drinking water to the people and anyone could check its quality at the PCSIR laboratories.