Cantt’s uncovered potholes make commute dangerous

Commuters travelling by car, motorcycle or on foot face an unlikely danger as the number of uncovered and open potholes on major roads and avenues of the Rawalpindi Cantonment.

The situation has reached an alarming level, with residents accusing the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) administration of negligence that has jeopardise children and elderly as well.

A basic review of roads showed that these uncovered potholes, in the middle of the road as well as along the pavement, pockmarked the Mall Road leading from Saddar to Naseerabad, Range Road, Abid Majeed Road, Tench Bhata Road, Kashmir Road, Gawalmandi, Saddar, Chohar chowk to Misrial Road and Dhok Syedan Road among others.

Commuters that The Express Tribune spoke to said that the potholes can be difficult to spot resulting in their vehicles running over them that damages the vehicle and also causes accidents.

According to motorcyclists, the likelihood of the vehicle tipping over and the driver getting injured was very high. It also damages vehicle parts.

These potholes can prove to be fatal during rains, particularly where the lids of such potholes and drains are missing.

This is the case on the pavements alongside the State Life Building, AWT Plaza and other sites near the Mall Road, where entire slabs are missing and have not been replaced. It has resulted in pedestrians falling over. There have been fatal instances of children falling into such uncovered drains and potholes during monsoon.

The situation is the same at high-footfall markets in the cantonment. The pavements at Coal Center, Railway Road, and from Kashmir Road to Gwalmandi remain in a dilapidated state with pedestrians required to be careful not to step into an uncovered manhole.

Mohammad Nazir, a local, said that the potholes were left uncovered even after the road was re-carpeted in various cantonment areas. Liaqat Hussain, another commuter on the Mall Road, said that accidents continue to happen but the RCB has failed to act on the issue. “These pavements are death traps,” he added.

RCB spokesperson Mohammad Riasat said that the department has completed the survey of uncovered manholes and potholes on cantonment roads. The board has approved patch work on potholes and covering of open manholes, he added. “The order is being issued to the contractors and work will start after the process is completed.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2023.