Kachehry Road project worsens traffic, pollution

Air quality index exceeds 170 as gridlock, dust and chaos grip Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI:

Severe traffic chaos, pollution, and public frustration have engulfed Rawalpindi's district courts area as the underpass and overhead bridge project enters its fourth day, with the traffic police failing to keep traffic flowing.

The worsening situation has drawn the attention of the courts themselves.

Despite severe cold, Rawalpindi deputy commissioner has reduced school timings by one hour—moving opening hours from 8.45–9am to 7.45am—causing distress to schoolchildren.

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi took strong notice of the gridlock and directed the deputy commissioner and city police officer (CPO) to design a traffic plan ensuring that lawyers and under-trial prisoners can reach courts on time.

Due to dust from excavation, Rawalpindi's air quality index has crossed 170, an alarming level, sparking respiratory illnesses, including colds, coughs, eye infections, and throat irritations. Residents living within a two-kilometre radius of the project complain that their homes, vehicles, and clothes are constantly covered in dust.

However, the lawyers' ongoing protest has led to a breakthrough.

The administration has removed the proposed Lawyers' Executive Block from the project's acquired land, fulfilling one of the bar's main demands.

The bar has also begun demolishing its own Hamza Block chambers.

District Bar President Sardar Manzar Bashir said negotiations with the administration were progressing, but several issues remained. "We hope the historic Kachehry mosque will also be demolished once matters are finalised this week," he remarked.

The administration has marked red lines across the land acquired for the project, including chambers, shops, and a mosque.

Despite the project being in its initial phase of excavation, traffic congestion has paralysed the city. None of the approach roads to the district courts have been converted into one-way routes, causing massive jams from Governor Annexe to Jhanda Chichi Chowk. A three-kilometre stretch remains clogged with vehicles, school vans, and ambulances for hours.

Residents allege that the deputy commissioner and CPO have created private emergency routes by breaking central road dividers near their homes on Kachehry-Murreer Hassan Road.