RAWALPINDI: The City Traffic Police have expressed concern over the excavation of the busiest Cricket Stadium Road for pipeline laying about five months ago, which was supposed to be finished within 15 days, asked the deputy commissioner Rawalpindi to ensure the completion of the work and carpeting of the road, which is seriously endangering the safety of road users and could result in the loss of precious lives.
According to sources, the city traffic police had already requested the deputy director of the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) twice once in August and again in Septemberand most recently to expedite the work and complete the pipeline laying work at the earliest as it was posing a serious risk to the safety of commuters, school children and pedestrians.
The pipeline laying work was scheduled to be completed within 15 days; however, despite a lapse of around five months, the project remained incomplete, and adequate safety measures had not been adopted at the site where heaps ofmud were lying in the road, and hardly any worker could be seen on the site.
Despite repeated requests to complete the pipe laying work on 9th Avenue by the city traffic police, the authorities concerned have not taken it seriously.
The City Traffic police have also cited road traffic accidents to catch the attention of district administration and DG Wasa as the traffic police New Town Circle had reported that a 3500cc Mazda mini truck had fallen onto the three motorcycles parked outside Panorama Center causing damage to all the vehicles.
Fortunately, no rider was present; otherwise, it could have resulted in serious injury or even loss of life. The incident badly affected the smooth flow of traffic and caused considerable travel difficulties to the general public.
Similarly, the city traffic police also cited another incident which happened on August 31st, as a Bedford truck also sank into the working area on the Stadium Road.
The situation poses a serious risk to the safety of road users and may lead to the loss of precious lives.
On the other hand, the commuters, residents of the surroundingareas, and traders/shopkeepers are equally disturbed and in distress over the situation and the callous attitude of the district administration and Wasa officials.
A female, while passing through the road in her wobbling car, said, ‘It looks as if the city managers are in deep slumber. They should visit this road themselves and realise how ordinary people are suffering in this situation In view of the situation, and failing to catch the attention of MD Wasa, the City Traffic Police have requested the deputy commissioner to direct the authorities concerned to expedite the ongoing pipeline laying work and make it complete on an immediate basis.
Safety measures may also be taken to avoid any untoward incident, as no safety precautions were put in place at the site. The pictorial evidence was also sent to the deputy commissioner, which may help to convince him to take the issue seriously and as a top priority.
It was not only the general public, but also the traffic police officials who have been facing problems in managing the vehicular movement on the dug-up road for the last five months.