Work on city beautification project to start next month
A stranded motorcyclist struggles to get his bike up and running after it gets stuck in a ditch on a submerged road near Baraf Khana Chowk in Dhoke Syedan, Rawalpindi. Photo: Express/FILE
The District Administration of Rawalpindi has formulated a strategy named ‘Beautiful City’ to beautify the inner city areas of Rawalpindi.
According to the proposed plan, Raja Bazaar, College Road, Fawara Chowk, Namak Mandi, Sabzi Mandi Road will be renovated on modern patterns. The plan has been initiated on the instructions of Rawalpindi Commissioner Noorul Amin Mengal.
In the first phase, the area up to Liaquat Bagh Fountain Chowk will be upgraded with paint and varnish on all buildings, one-size signboards, LED lights, flowering plants, and new plants besides construction of Italian style pedestrian paths.
For the complete elimination of encroachments, a new force will be formed in collaboration with the traffic police and the staff of the Municipal Corporation.
Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tahir Farooq said that Rawalpindi city will give a new and beautiful look within six months. “We had meetings with Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also students of National College of Arts,” he said, adding that a complete survey of all central and inner city buildings, streets and alleys has been completed.
Farooq said, “Our aim is to make the city clean, for which we need the citizen’s cooperation.”
He said that Raja Bazaar is the oldest bazaar in Rawalpindi where tourists and buyers from all over the world come for shopping. Signboards on all buildings will be redesigned, new LED lights will be installed, buildings will be painted on both sides of the streets.
In the second phase of the project, City Saddar Road, Rata Amral Road, Namak Mandi, Sarafa Bazaar, Mughal Sarai Road, Bani Chowk will be upgraded, while in the third phase, Commercial Market, Sadiqabad, Shamsabad, Double Road, Syedpur Road will be improved, he said, adding that a strategy will be formulated with the help of local traders to curb the encroachments. Later, an operation against encroachments will also be carried out at night, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2022.