Bank Road becomes pedestrian-only zone
Shoppers stroll along the newly revamped Bank Road in Rawalpindi’s Saddar area which has been turned into a pedestrian-only alley. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has converted Bank Road into a pedestrian-only zone as part of its underground cabling and beautification project in the Saddar's Commercial Area.
Steel barriers have been installed at all connecting streets to prevent the entry of vehicles and motorcycles, effectively limiting access to pedestrians only.
The move came after vehicular access to Bank Road was previously restricted, with heavy barriers at key points, including Murree Road, Haider Road, Canning Road, Police Station Road, and Kashmir Road.
Shoppers can now only access the area on foot, raising concerns among the trading community over inadequate parking facilities, restricted emergency access, and business logistical hurdles.
According to officials, 90 per cent of the work on Bank Road has been completed, with progress visible in two of its blocks.
The beautification efforts include the installation of special food and drink cabins, roadside benches, unique streetlights, and executive washrooms. The fronts of buildings are being repainted, and uniform-sized advertisement boards are being mounted to give the street a cohesive appearance.
The broader underground cabling and beautification initiative, estimated at Rs2 billion, is being executed in phases across Saddar's commercial area, including Haider Road, Kashmir Road, and Mall Road. Funding for the project comes from the federal and Punjab governments.
Despite the development, the business community has voiced strong reservations. General Secretary of the Traders Association Cantt, Zafar Qadri, criticised the decision to transform Bank Road into a pedestrian-only street, citing significant disruptions to business activity.
"Bank Road is a commercial hub, and this decision has severely impacted businesses," Qadri said. He highlighted the insufficiency of parking facilities at Pothohar 1 and Pothohar 2, which are unable to accommodate shoppers' vehicles.
Qadri also pointed out logistical and safety challenges. "Blocking connecting routes has created difficulties for emergency vehicles. It's unclear how water tankers or goods delivery vehicles will reach shops on Bank Road," he said.
The traders' leader also expressed dissatisfaction with the planning process, stating that representatives of the business community were excluded from the standing committee overseeing the project. "Our suggestions were ignored," he lamented.
Authorities have assured traders that their concerns will be addressed.