RDA to regularise illegal commercial structures

Civic body gives 36 roads commercial status in Pindi

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has commercialised 36 roads in its control area across the district. After getting commercial status, buildings of up to 120 feet height can be built on 120 feet wide roads, with underground parking facilities.

This will increase the revenue of the authority. After the prohibition of parking on the roadside, traffic flow will be eased.

The RDA has changed the nomenclature of the district planning and design committee and renamed it as planning and design committee. The panel will be headed by RDA Director General Nadeem Ahmed Abro instead of the Rawalpindi commissioner. The first meeting of the committee will be held on September 29 under the chairmanship of DG RDA Abro.

To curb the growing trend of illegal commercial constructions in the RDA’s jurisdiction, it has been decided to bring new building planning and control regulations under which all illegal commercial structures will be regularised. The process will be chaired by the DG at the planning and design committee forum.

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The 36 important roads of Rawalpindi to receive commercialisation status, include Adiala Road, Chakri Road, GT Road, Airport Road, Expressway, High Court Road, Murree Road, Taxila Road and roads in other important tehsils of Rawalpindi will be given commercial status and regularised.

According to the formula devised for commercial construction, the height of the commercial building will be equal to the width of the road on which the commercial building is constructed. The condition will also be in place before approving the building plan for any new structure in areas under RDA. Underground parking will now be mandatory for commercial buildings in RDA-managed areas and have a height of 65 feet to 120 feet.

According to RDA officials, all commercial buildings will be issued notices that are illegal or have been constructed contrary to approved building plans.

Regulation fees will have to be paid by the management or owners of commercial buildings not compliant with the new rules.

The planning and design committee will now also ensure that construction along any road declared commercial cannot begin without prior approval of the RDA.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2021.