Desperately needed: an overhead bridge

A few years ago an underpass was constructed, directing traffic from residential areas like Lalazar Colony and others on Adiala Road, for those who wanted to go to the airport and onward to Islamabad and this was supposed to ease the traffic from what is known as ‘Kutcheri Chowk.’ Which it did, to some extent — with zero traffic management and undisciplined driving, the situation is never satisfactory — and it provided an alternate route, somewhat easing congestion on the multi-directional crossroads.
Anyway, the underpass was built opposite the Jinnah Park in Rawalpindi, passing the district courts on one side. Here lies the crunch. Ever since some of the legal departments shifted to the building next to the Jinnah Park complex — it has been erected on land that housed the Rawalpindi jail — there is a constant stream of human traffic going from one side of the road to the other. While the Jinnah Park side does not pose much of a problem since the road is wider, the road past the old district courts often sees a traffic jam as cars wait for pedestrians to cross.
The worst time is during office and school opening and closing hours and also because lawyers and litigants park their cars along the road taking up one-third of it, even though there are ‘No Parking’ signs. It speaks volumes for the behaviour of those who are supposed to uphold the law, doesn’t it! There is also a glut of traffic when VIP movement takes place. The whole concept of the underpass easing traffic congestion is defeated because of this spot.
What is desperately needed is an overhead bridge at this point so pedestrians can cross without making vehicular traffic wait. There was some talk of erecting one a few years ago but what happened to the plan, heaven only knows. It is requested that the authorities give some thought to it again and provide some relief to those who commute through the underpass on a daily basis. And if the overhead bridge is put up, the narrow bridge that now serves as the crossing point should be done away with, so that pedestrians are forced to use the overhead one, as generally, everyone is too lazy to take a slightly longer route. You only have to look at the overhead bridges on the Islamabad Expressway to see what I mean!