Almost all the main commercial areas of Rawalpindi city and cantonment have been taken over by encroachers, as shopkeepers and vendors are occupying most of the footpaths and parking areas, hampering smooth flow of traffic and pedestrians. The irony is that encroachers in connivance with officials of the civic bodies have set up their stalls on almost all roads of the main markets in the city.
The situation is worse in Gawalmandi, Raja Bazaar and its adjacent markets including Iqbal Road, Liaquat Market, College Road, Liaquat Road, Kalaan, Urdu, and Mochi bazaars, Jinnah Road, Jamia Masjid Road, Banni Market, Kashmiri and Narankari Bazaars, Namak Mandi, Gunjmandi and other areas.
The encroachments in cantonment areas are also on the rise as Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment officials are unable to get this genie back into the bottle due to shortage of staff.
Encroachments in different areas including Saddar Bazaar, Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Chungi No 22, Dhoke Syedan Chowk and other areas have become one of the biggest problems not only for the motorists, but also for the area residents. While the officials concerned are not taking any action.
Residents told APP that encroachment is the main reason behind traffic jams, as the encroachers occupy almost half of the road. In case of Gawalmandi and other areas, the mechanics have occupied the road and undertaking repair of the vehicles along the road side. This is not only hampering the flow of traffic but also risking the lives of young students, who have to walk down to school.
When contacted the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rawalpindi said he had just taken office and would look into the situation. When APP approached Additional CEO Shakil Anwar Jappa, he refused to talk on the matter, after an hour-long wait.
Tariq, a resident of over-congested Peoples Colony in Tench Bhatta, said that one could see traffic mess in his area and it was only because of encroachers, who occupy both sides of the road with their carts and leave no space for parking of vehicles and movement of traffic. This often leads to nerve breaking traffic jams too.
He said the Cantonment high ups should visit the area during rush hours to see the ground situation and provide relief to the agonising residents. An anti encroachment official of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board claimed that they pay surprise visits to remove the encroachers from roads and also impose fine on them, but they re-appear immediately after paying the fine. He said they were trying their best to overcome the issue.
The encroachers have set up their regular businesses not only on the footpaths, but also set up kiosks and stalls in the open spaces in parking areas.
Similarly, Bank Road and Kashmir Road in Saddar, the biggest shopping centre in cantonment area, are the most affected. Almost all the footpaths are in the hold of different vendors who carry out their business of watches, goggles, leather belts and purses, garments and edibles. Likewise, similar stalls could be witnessed along Haider Road.
In other vicinities like Hathi Chowk, Chota Bazaar, Nishter Street, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Road, Massy Gate and Hospital Road, the encroachments have made it difficult for pedestrians to move.
The residents are also facing a similar situation in residential areas like Gawalmandi, Aahata Mithu Khan, Adamjee Road, Dhoke Rata Road and Transit Camp. These workshops have encroached upon most of the footpaths.
In Rawal Town, several roads which were widened enough for smooth flow of traffic are now under the control of the encroachers. Murree Road and its service roads mainly Circular Road has fully been encroached, where motorcycles are parked on both sides of the road and the encroachers have occupied a wide area along the road.
Free hand has also been given to the encroachers in several other roads like Sadiqabad, Kuri Road, Stadium Road, National Market, Khayaban-e-Sir-Syed, Pindora Road, Dhoke Khabba, Tippu Road and other roads.
The problem also creates noise and air pollution. Faisal, a resident of College Road said that the encroachers have occupied both sides of the road and left no space for parking in the bazaar or even walkways for pedestrians. "The authorities concerned should come up with an effective and honest strategy to remove encroachments," he suggested.
The citizens have urged the authorities to take strict action against the shopkeepers, vendors and fruit and vegetable handcart owners that are creating hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic, leading to trouble for the residents. Sardar Tashfeen TMO Rawal Town said they have launched a vigorous campaign to rid the main bazaars of the city and said the policy of returning the confiscated goods has been shelved as according to him the exercise was proving to be futile as the bazaars and various localities were becoming inaccessible due to sprawling encroachment mafia.
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