Rawalpindi - The residents of Dhaman Syedan and Ali Town are facing immense troubles owing to bad condition of roads in their areas and demanded authorities concerned to repair the roads.
Members of various organizations and residents including women also threatened to launch a protest movement to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the pathetic condition of the roads from Dhama Morr to Imam Bargah and Ali Town Stop to Dhoke Baba Miran Mustafa.
According to a survey conducted by The Nation yesterday, the roads in the areas of Dhama Mor, Sadiq Town, Mumtaz Market, Dhoke Haji Niaz Ali, Ali Town and Dhoke Baba Miran Mustafa have hundreds of potholes, causing inconvenience to commuters, pedestrians and the traders.
According to residents and traders, several school going children have sustained injuries while the roads witnessed accidents in recent months.
“The condition of the road is so bad that it has become difficult for us to walk on the road. There is mud and potholes of different radii have developed everywhere,” said Muhammad Shakil, a resident of Pakeeza Super Store Street. He added that he had lodged complaint with area public representative but he did not pay heed towards the lingering issue.
Imran Khan, a cloth seller in Sardar Plaza on Dhama Mor, told this correspondent that his business was in huge loss because of damaged road as sewerage water gushed outside his shop making it impossible for customers to buy commodities from his shop. “We are requesting the authorities concerned and the politicians we voted for to repair the roads or else we will stage a protest on Adiala Road,” he threatened.
A few years ago the government carpeted Adiala Road but did not take notice of the shamble condition of linking road of Ali Town and Dhama Morr, said Haji Javed, a PTI supporter. He lashed out at the government for not initiating measures to improve the condition of the road.
“My six-year-old son once sustained critical knee injury after he fell down into a small ditch appeared on the road near Tandoor. His school uniform got dirty,” said Mahroof Begun, a housewife and resident of Sadiq Town.
Many others criticised the authorities concerned and area public elected representatives for not showing attention towards public maladies.
PML-N leader and MPA Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal, who was elected from PP-6, was not available for his comments over bad condition of roads in his constituency. However, Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO) Potohar Town Sardar Tashfeen, when contacted for his version, said that he would visit the areas and see the damaged roads. He said that he would move a request to the government for issuance of funds for renovation of the roads in Dhama Syedan and Ali Town.