Heritage trail submerged by encroachments

Traffic permissions jeopardised this vital project

PESHAWAR:

The residents of Peshawar have said that the original purpose of the heritage trail – the expensive project built on the lines of Lahore's Gawalmandi – has been buried under encroachments.

The project, intended to revive and illuminate historical and ancient sites in the interior city area of tehsil Gor Gathri, has been “buried under the mafia of encroachments and traffic chaos.”

Piles of garbage have marred the beauty of the heritage trail in various locations. Shopkeepers have extended their shops several feet beyond their designated boundaries, making it difficult for vehicles to pass by and even impeding pedestrians.

During the rule of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the heritage trail was constructed with the aim of resurrecting the ancient and historical sites in the area.

Initially, the heritage trail was closed to traffic and beautifully lit up in the evenings. However, the current district administration later yielded to the pressure from shopkeepers and opened the trail to traffic.

Shopkeepers’ encroachment and the presence of rickshaws and vehicles used for transporting goods to the shops have caused severe traffic congestion.

The passage from tehsil Gor Gathri to Chawk Yadgar has become very congested for the daily commute of people. Benches constructed for the convenience of citizens have also disappeared.

Therefore, the citizens suggested restoring the trail to its former state and undertaking construction of road and footpath to make life easier for the residents.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2023.