Encroachment: Commuters, pedestrians facing problems

Municipal official says new strategy evolved, raids being conducted.

RAWALPINDI: Nearly all main commercial areas of Rawal Town have been encroached upon by shopkeepers and vendors who occupy footpaths and open spaces, thus creating problems for commuters and pedestrians.

The encroachers have set up stalls in Raja Bazaar and its adjacent markets including Iqbal Road, Liaquat Market, College Road, Liaquat Road, Kalan Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Mochi Bazaar, Jinnah Road, Jamia Masjid Road, Bunni Market, Kashmiri Bazaar, Nankari Bazaar, Namak Mandi and Gunjmandi.

Several city roads are also under the control of encroachers. Benazir Bhutto Road and its service roads mainly Circular Road have fully been encroached upon where the motorcycles are displayed on the both sides of the road and the encroachers have occupied open spaces on the road.

Meanwhile, a town municipal officer said that efforts underway to control the problem, adding that a new strategy to cope with the problem has been evolved and daily raids are conducted in this regard.

Though, a number of anti-encroachment drives were launched by the authorities concerned in all areas but the situation never changed in the city. The traffic mess on the roads creates problems for the area residents and the motorists besides noise pollution.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2013.