Bumpy thoroughfare: Where the twin cities are joined

Pirwadhai Road suffers neglect; broken traffic signals, lack of bridges add to woes

RAWALPINDI: Pirwadhai Road, one of the busy junctions connecting the twin cities, presents a true picture of neglect.

Countless potholes on the road are not only the reason for the clogging, but they do cause most of the accidents.



As the location for a number of long distance bus terminals, the road is widely used by people travelling between cities. Besides, Pirwadhai Road also serves as the main road used for the supply of fruits and vegetables to the twin cities.

Out-of-order traffic signals and street lights just add to the woes of the people. The mobility of a large number of Carriage Factory employees, also severally affects the traffic as they try crossing the road due to the absence of overhead bridges.

Motorists face the threat of accidents, often fatal ones, as motorcycles often fall on the patchy road. The road is then encroached creating a nuisance for the area residents. The greenbelt area of the entire road not only presents a deserted look but is also often used as a waste dumping ground.



Poor maintenance of the road and haphazard constructions on both sides of the road has led to the sorry situation. Bad drainage system leads water running on the road.

Lack of concern

Talking to The Express Tribune, traders claimed to have made several complaints to the Rawalpindi Development Authority and stage numerous protests against the heavily encroached and dilapidated road, but to no avail.



“We pay heavy taxes to the Town Municipal Administration (TMA) but get nothing in return,” said Mustafa Ahmed a local trader, adding that though the Punjab government has recently completed its Metro project he doesn’t understand why they were neglecting such an important road.

The Punjab government has recently completed many road development projects including the Metro Bus Project and work on many other roads is undergoing, however, Pirwadhai Road is not included in any project.

The Punjab government has recently approved Rs450 million for the upgradation of Rawal Road, Tipu Road, Chaklala, Dhoke Khaba Road and Ali Nawaz Choan to Chah Sultan and Kuri Road but the road linking the twin cities across the country is not included in this project.  Moreover, Glass Factory Road, Westridge Road and Dhoke Hasu Road are also not part of the project despite dilapidating conditions.

“We have lodged several complaints about the heaps of garbage along the road, but the relevant authority never paid attention to it,” said Ashraf Ali, a mechanic, at Pirwadhai Road.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2016.