Dilapidated road adds to traffic woes

Persistent delays in construction of Kahuta Road blamed for inconvenience

RAWALPINDI:

The road from Sihala police station to Sihala Police College has deteriorated significantly due to the slow progress of construction work, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Similarly, the ongoing construction on the road from Hothla to Y Cross on the Kahuta Road has also been plagued by delays.

According to locals, the traffic issues stem from the large potholes on the damaged road stretching from Sihala police station to Railway Gate and Sihala Police College.

This route, which connects Rawalpindi to Model Town Industrial Triangle and Sihala, extends through Tehsil Shihala and reaches Azad Kashmir.

The road condition has been poor for years, primarily due to neglect from successive governments. The PDM government, followed by the current federal and Punjab governments, have all overlooked the necessary construction and road carpeting on this crucial route after the tenure of the PTI government.

The neglected stretch spans approximately two kilometres and is riddled with large potholes and severe wear and tear. Despite multiple announcements, the construction and repair work on this segment has not been undertaken, forcing traffic to divert through Islamabad's Koral Chowk, passing through a private housing society, and then via Japan Road and Chakian Bridge, before rejoining Kahuta Road.

On Japan Road, about one kilometre was excavated to increase its height. Layers of material were laid down, but the road was never carpeted, and the machinery was subsequently removed. This has exacerbated traffic problems on the road.

Another problematic area on Kahuta Road involves a planned one-kilometre extension from Hothla to Y Cross. New bridges were constructed as part of this project, with increased width to accommodate the expanded road.