Slow pace of work on Rawal Road irks commuters

Rawalpindi

The pace of work on Rawal Road is slow and causing inconveniences to the road users particularly those trying to reach Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology.

For almost three months, work on Rs334 million project is going on at a slow pace whereas the Punjab government has already released the amount. The top layer of the Rawal Road was removed in the month of September for initiation of repairs. Heavy machinery is still busy in removing other layers from both sides of Rawal Road while the further work is yet to begin and the dust and rough portions of the road are causing great inconvenience not only to the road users but also to the residents of nearby areas.

When ‘The News’ contacted Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) spokesman Hafiz Muhammad Irfan he said that construction work was going on at a rapid pace. “The contractor will complete construction work of Rawal Road before December 31, 2016. The higher authorities of RDA are personally monitoring construction work of Rawal Road,” he said.

On the other hand, asenior traffic warden, Tajamal Hussain, said that he has been performing duty at Rawal Road for two weeks. “We are trying to manage traffic flow but slow pace of construction work on road is the major reason of rush. “We are helpless in this condition,” he claimed. He said that RDA contractors had started work from August removing layers of Rawal Road. They had left the road as it is therefore public facing hell like situation, he denounced.

Sana Ramzan, travelling with her ailing father in an ambulance said that her father was a heart patient. “We are going to Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology for treatment but traffic is blocked which is not allowing us to move even a single step,” she denounced. “The contractors should finish construction work at rapid pace to avoid public problems,” she appealed.

It is worth mentioning here that condition of Rawal Road was better. It was necessary to start working in those areas where there were no roads. 

According to information, more than 70 per cent roads are in dilapidated condition in the Potohar Town areas. While more than 40 per cent roads are still in poor condition in Rawal Town areas whereas more than 50 per cent roads are in poor condition in Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and CCB localities.