RAWALPINDI – Mushrooming illegal motorcycles rickshaws terminals have multiplied road accidents besides posing traffic jams in all the areas of the city.
These terminals have been set up illegally in different areas including Qasim Market, Raja Bazaar, Committee Chowk, Dhok Hussoo, Pir Wadhai, Banni market, Bagh-e-Sardaran, Misrial Road, Chakra, Dhok Sayyedan, Dhok Khabba, Shams Abad, Kurri road and Sadiq Abad.
“We can not walk on foot paths throughout Raja Bazaar as they have been encroached upon by the motorcycles rickshaw drivers, said a group of ladies while asking rickshaw drivers to give them way to enter into Raja Bazaar.
“I was injured being hit by a car on my way to market near Fowara chowk in a bid to enter market due to the reason that I was forced to walk along road side as I found no path vacant to walk on being illegally occupied by motorcycle rickshaw drivers, said Aamna Bibi, a housewife.
All the markets of cantonment area have been made no go areas by these rickshaw drivers for pedestrians as no footpath is left unoccupied by them and this way not only miseries of the citizens have been compounded but it has shaped traffic jams a common phenomenon which is on rise in phenomenal proportion. Citizens have demanded crackdown against the illegal rickshaw terminals to put to end their woes.
Meanwhile, the service road and footpath in Shamsabad to Faizabad have been occupied by encroachers, and due to the Sixth Road flyover project, surrounding areas experience traffic jams during most part of the day. The service road alongside Benazir Bhutto Road has lost its importance in the wake of under construction flyover project. On the other hand, the Tehsil Municipal Administration and traffic police have failed to perform their duties and sort out problems of encroachment in different parts of the city.
Illegal parking and encroachments in Cantt and other city areas are also causing traffic jams. Rawalpindi Cantonment Board’s shopping areas, particularly Saddar, has parking allotment in front of plazas but such sites are being used by owners of shops for their business purposes.
Citizens have demanded government to take action against illegally established showrooms on Murree Road to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
Meanwhile, traders of the Raja Bazaar and Dehngi Khoie have demanded to terminate the encroachment on footpaths and illegally constructed transport terminals.
Due to the rush of encroachers, the traders of Raja Bazaar said that Chin chi, Rickshaws and the standing of Suzuki from outside of their terminals the public and traders are facing severe difficulties. In view of this, the traders Sheikh said that the public feel hesitant to come into markets due to encroachments on footpaths and the rush at the illegal transport terminals. The traders demanded from District administration to take stern action against illegally transport terminal and encroachment on footpaths so that the public gets some relief.