Encroachments in Rawal Town remain unnoticed

[Salman]

Encroachments in Rawal Town remain unnoticed

* Residents say encroachers main cause of traffic jams

RAWALPINDI: The residents of the Circular Road, Saidpur Road and Bunni area have been voicing their concerns over the illegal occupation of these roads by encroachers, who park their vehicles and set up all sorts of businesses on the roads, not only causing extreme traffic congestion but also creating problems for pedestrians.

The citizens said encroachments are on the rise as the authorities concerned have failed to control the situation.

They said the encroachers on Saidpur Road and Bunni Chowk had become a headache, as they hampered the movement of not just vehicles but also pedestrians.

The locals urged the authorities concerned to come up with a solution to the problem and remove encroachments. They said encroachments had not only marred the beauty of the area but also damaged the roads, causing great hardships for people travelling through the only route available to them.

The situation has worsened on Circular Road where motorcycle dealers and owners of auto workshops have occupied both sides of the road.

“It has become a parking space for encroachers while fruit sellers have set up stalls on the walkway and the road,” a resident of the area said, adding that the phenomenon had become one of the biggest problems for residents of the garrison city.

A resident of Saidpur Road, Aamir, said the encroachers rule the area and the authorities concerned should remove them. “The encroachers throw garbage in the open. We have lodged several complaints with the administration but no action has been taken in this regard,” he said. He said that the taxi drivers were also contributing to the problem by parking their vehicles on the road, particularly near Bunni Chowk. “It is very difficult to cross the Circular Road and Bunni Chowk during peak hours because the encroachers are running their businesses by occupying the road,” said Tahir, a motorist.

The residents of these areas said the practice was the main reason behind traffic jams in the areas. They urged the city district government to remove encroachments from roads to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.