Murree braces for Eid rush

Admin sets up 7 facilitation centres to accommodate tourists during holidays

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi divisional administration and City Traffic Police have finalised recreational facilities and traffic plans for visitors of Malika Kohsar Murree and Galyat on the eve of Eidul Fitr.

Given the expected arrival of a large number of tourists from all over the country at the famous hill station and its surrounding areas, the facility centres have been established at seven different locations and an ‘organised’ traffic plan has been devised

These centres have been set up at Satra Mile, Lower Topa, Jika Galli, Kaldna, Kashmir Chowk, Sunny Bank and GPO Chowk which will remain fully operational until the end of the Eid holidays.

Chairing a meeting, Commissioner Rawalpindi Engineer Aamir Khattak said that all arrangements were aimed at providing all possible assistance to the tourists on the occasion of Eid and that people should cooperate with the administration.

He said that as per the traffic plan, no parking would be allowed around the GPO Chowk, while timings for large vehicles would remain intact. The entry of motorcycles would be restricted beyond the specified point.

Similarly, motorists heading to Kashmir will use the Expressway. A central control room has been set up at Jinnah Hall Murree where the focal persons of all relevant departments will be present round-the-clock to guide the tourists. Official accounts will also guide weather and traffic updates in Murree.

The commissioner further said that the convenience of tourists and locals would be given top priority while finalising all the arrangements, adding the stock position of ration and petrol in Murree had been doubled.

Khattak, in his instructions to the district administration and police, said that administrative officers should remain active in the field to check overcharging from visitors. He also ordered to ensure all necessary medicines, lab test facilities and the presence of senior doctors at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) Murree. He directed the Murree Deputy Commissioner to convince the hotel association not to charge more than the fixed rates from tourists.

The commissioner said that the purpose of all arrangements is to provide all possible assistance to the tourists on the occasion of Eid and that the people should also fully cooperate with the administration and plan their trip according to the weather conditions and departmental advisory. To avoid rush, implementation of the traffic management plan would be ensured, he maintained.

Rawalpindi CTO Taimur Khan said that more than 200 wardens and officials have been additionally deployed in Murree to keep the traffic flow smooth during the Eid holidays and Senior Traffic Officer Munir Hashmi all supervision will supervise the traffic plan.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2024.