RAWALPINDI:
As the New Year approaches, Rawalpindi remains mired in stagnation, with neither new development projects initiated nor ongoing schemes completed in 2024.
The city and cantonment’s development institutions failed to address persistent issues, including water shortages, traffic congestion, encroachments, and illegal constructions. Work on the remaining floors of the city’s lone parking plaza stalled, and no new parking plazas were constructed on proposed sites, worsening traffic pressure in commercial areas.
The much-anticipated Ghazi-Barotha Water Supply Project envisioned to provide 100 million gallons of water daily to Rawalpindi and Islamabad, remained stuck in bureaucratic limbo despite feasibility approvals. The project’s cost soared from an initial estimate of Rs30-40 billion to Rs100 billion due to delays.
Similarly, the Rawalpindi Ring Road Project, Leh Expressway and Flood Channel Project, and Mother-Child Hospital witnessed little to no progress. The conversion of Bank Road into a pedestrian-only commercial street has further strained nearby roads and disrupted traffic flow due to inadequate planning.
Parking woes continued with insufficient space in Potohar 1 and Potohar 2, while the construction of multi-story parking plazas at these locations was overlooked. Health facilities also faced severe challenges, with overburdened hospitals like Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology offering surgery appointments as far as six to eight months out.
The most notable project in Cantt last year was the transformation of Bank Road into Rawalpindi’s first commercial pedestrian street. However, this initiative rendered the parking spaces in the basements of major commercial plazas unusable, as vehicles and motorcycles are no longer permitted in the area.
Consequently, the diversion of traffic from Bank Road to Haider Road, Adamji Road, King Road, and Kashmir Road has significantly disrupted the overall traffic system.
Educational infrastructure remained stagnant, with no new schools, colleges, or universities established in Rawalpindi, making it increasingly difficult for students to secure admissions in government institutions or afford private ones.
As the new-year begins, the Rawalpindi Development Authority, WASA, PHA, Municipal Corporation, cantonment boards, and district councils are expected to reassess ongoing and proposed development projects for 2025. Whether this year will bring the much-needed progress remains to be seen.
The most notable project in Cantt last year was the transformation of Bank Road into Rawalpindi’s first commercial pedestrian street.
