Pindi regeneration plan starts from Feb

Powerlines in Raja Bazaar to go underground

RAWALPINDI:

Groundwork to revamp the Sarafa Bazaar area and to restore the Sujan Singh Haveli are expected to commence early next year as the civic authority of the city plans to shift ‘ugly’ overhead powerlines in the crowded markets of the city underground.

This was directed on Monday during a meeting of the Rawalpindi urban development committee.

The meeting was chaired by Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Tariq Murtaza and was attended by representatives from the Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC), RDA Finance Deputy Director Junaid Taj Bhatti Rawalpindi Traffic Police DSP, along with other partners of the urban regeneration project including officials of the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), Indus Heritage Trust, Akhter Hameed Khan Trust, United Nations Development Project (UNDP) Pakistan Urban Platform Head Dr Naveed Iftikhar and chairman of the local traders’ association, and president of the local jewellers association.

Murtaza said that the projects aim to highlight Rawalpindi’s cultural heritage by improving living conditions in Raja Bazaar, improving the overall traffic situation in the city and promoting sustainable tourism.

The scope of projects was discussed with their relevant stakeholders to determine fair timelines to complete the projects.

He added that urban projects also includes the pilot urban regeneration plan for the Sarafa and Bhabra Bazaars, conservation of Sujan Singh Haveli, promotion of sustainable urban mobility and resilience strategy in the city along with livelihood opportunities through job creation and entrepreneurship projects.

Emphasising the need to improve the current traffic, water and sewerage system in Raja Bazaar, the RDA chief directed representatives of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to submit provisional estimates about what would it cost to shift overhead power lines to underground pipelines, like in neighbouring Islamabad.

He also affirmed his support to the RMC in adhering to project timelines.

It was decided that urban regeneration and conservation projects related to the Sarafa Bazaar and Sujan Singh Haveli will commence in February 2021.

It was shared that the next meeting will take place after two weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2020.