Illegal commercial activities in residential areas irk Pindiites

Rawalpindi : Illegal commercial activities in Tench Bhatta, Chungi No 22, Gawalmandi, and other residential areas irk the residents as the encroachers have occupied streets and roads, creating problems for motorists as well as pedestrians particularly for women and children.

According to locals, most of the streets of Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Dhoke Syedan, Bakra Mandi, Chungi No 22, Gawalmandi and other areas have been converted into commercial centers as the traders have changed houses into shops and godowns.

The residents also complained that influential persons with the connivance of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) officials are constructing illegal plazas and shops in such localities further deteriorating the agonizing situation.

The residents talking to this agency informed that encroachments in several residential areas particularly Tench Bhatta, Chungi No 22 and Gawalmandi are on the rise as RCB authorities are unable to remove encroachments that are getting out of control.

Encroachments have become a major problem not only for motorists, but also for the area residents, while the concerned are taking no action.

The residents complained that encroachments are the main reason behind traffic jams, as encroachers, have occupied almost half of the roads.

Not only the motorists, but the pedestrians are facing problems because of the encroachments restricting their movement.

The authorities should play a role to remove these encroachers from the roads for smooth flow of traffic, they urged.

Altaf Iqbal, a resident of Tench Bhatta said that one could witness the traffic mess in Tench Bhatta road as the shopkeepers have occupied both sides of the road and left no space for movement of pedestrians besides causing the worst traffic jams.

Mushtaq, a resident of Gawalmandi informed that the vehicles are parked in front of the workshops along with the road further narrowing the passage on the road traffic as repair work of faulty vehicles is carried out on the road.

He said that the residents are facing difficulties due to encroachments in various streets of the area.

Imran, another resident said, it is the responsibility of RCB to take action against encroachers and those involved in illegal commercial activities in residential areas.