Road Blockage

Widening of Girja Road Rawalpindi is need of the hour, in the wake of forthcoming inauguration of New Airport Islamabad.

The new Islamabad Airport is going to be the largest airport in Pakistan, to be completed this year. It is expected to have 15 million passengers by 2019 and 25 million by 2025. The link roads to the airport are Kashmir Highway connecting Islamabad to the airport, Fateh Jang Road connecting Attock to the airport and Girja Road for the Rawalpindi connection. Girja Road ends at Dhoke Syedan Chowk Rawalpindi which is within the jurisdiction of Cantonment Board Rawalpindi. The distance from Thallian Interchange to Cantonment Limits is 8 K.M. Cantonment Board Rawalpindi starts on the end of Girja Road Near Dhoke Syedan Chowk. In official papers and revenue record Girja Road is 120 feet wide. But from Dhoke Syedan Chowk with the active connivance of the officials/officers of Cantonment Board Rawalpindi most of the road is occupied by Mafias. Only 15 to 20 feet road is left for passerby people and their vehicles. This is the shortest route leading to Rawalpindi from Thallian Interchange to Military Hospital the whole distance is less than 12 Kilometers. Interchange at Thallian was constructed almost three years ago but but unfortunately officially it could not be inaugurated as the regime of PML(N) commenced no sooner did the PPP Government came to an end.

It is regretted to bring to the notice of high-ups of the Military Command that most of the Military installations are on the southern side of Girja Road i.e. Qasim Base and its connected installations and at its ends there are several Military Units and GHQ is situate. Military Engineering Service has already got constructed double road from G.T. Road to Kiyani Road since three years ago but during the regime of PML(N) condition of the road from Kiyani Road to Dhoke Syedan Chowk and whole Girja road is worst example of mismanagement. Although Army Medical College is just 15 K.M away from Thallian Interchange constructed three years ago but not being made functional till date.

Reason for not taking interest in road of Rawalpindi Cantonment and surrounding is best known to the Government as most of the road shown in papers to be the property of the Government is under illegal occupation of various mafia.

I have seen many patient died in worst traffic Jam at Girja Road. Government and its writ is not seen on this road.

Surprisingly Cantonment Board Rawalpindi and T.M.A. Rawalpindi collect billion of rupees annually on account of transfer tax on registered deeds but spend this large money to pay the perks and salaries to their officials and officers but road from Kiayani Road Rawalpindi to Dhowk Syedan and Girja Road is in worst condition. Even 100 feet roads in official papers now remain 12 feet to 15 and at the most 20 feet at some places because of illegal occupation. A single Penny is not being spent on the said roads either by Cantonment Board or the TMA Rawalpindi.

Question arise that billion of rupees is being spent on salary of Government officials but the road is not being built.

The priorities of the Government are wrong. The distance of motorway to Zero Point to the airport via the Kashmir Highway is 35 kilometers, and the distance from Saddar Rawalpindi to the airport via Girja Road is just 15 kilometers. This shows the importance of the Girja Road in connecting more than three million of the population to the airport. Girja Road was built in the late 1970s and is just 12 feet wide but land earmarked for road was 100 feet . There are already many traffic jams there, which are a daily routine. Now this road is the key to connecting all to the international airport and demands immediate attention of the highway authorities as well as the government, otherwise it will lead to total chaos.

Cantonment Board Rawalpindi and T.M.A. Rawalpindi is requested to at least spend 20% earnings from tax being collected by their mafias upon each and every registered sale deed and Mutation fee, otherwise stop collecting those taxes from the people and mirror for them is the bad condition of the road and its occupation by the mafia.