Cosmetic: Rains wash away Rs5b worth of roads in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: Recent road repairs in Rawalpindi seemed to have been cosmetic after the winter rains washed them away exposing the poor quality of work and raising questions over the integrity of the contractors and the officials concerned.

The Rawal Road, which had been carpeted at a cost of Rs50 million, from the discretionary funds allotted to MNAs, was swept away with rainwater.

According to locals, the road was passable before the government tore it apart and re-carpeted it. “Now it is worse than ever,” a resident said adding the asphalt and gravel had been washed away by the rain leaving behind pot holes and even foot-deep ditches on the thoroughfare, another resident living close to the Rawal Road said.

Streets and lanes in the old city area have turned into sewers, are residents complained.

Meanwhile, contractors assigned to repair roads in Dhok Farman Ali, Dhok Khabba and Amarpura too have disappeared with the winter showers leaving streets dug up at many places.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2017.