The Punjab government has fixed a new deadline of December 30 to complete the undergrounding of electricity and telephone cables in Rawalpindi’s Commercial Market, where a major pedestrian street and beautification project is underway. The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation launched the scheme last month with the aim of transforming the busy Satellite Town commercial zone into a car free area by removing encroachments, relocating utilities and installing uniform shop signboards at a cost of Rs300 million.
Despite this push, progress by Iesco, SNGPL and PTCL on shifting power lines, gas infrastructure and communication cables underground has remained sluggish. The commercial stretch from Chandni Chowk Road to Rehmanabad Road is slated to become a full pedestrian street, but concerns persist as the project does not include a dedicated parking plan. A review meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi directed all utility departments to meet the December 30 deadline to prevent further delays to the beautification phase.
According to a senior RMC official, funds have been released from the Punjab government’s development allocation and while initial completion was targeted for June 30, the minister wants the project finished by March or April. Traders, however, expressed frustration over dug up streets and slow moving utility work which has reduced footfall and disrupted business activity in the market.
A similar situation is unfolding in Raja Bazaar, where the pedestrian street project from Fawara Chowk to Hamilton Road is also hindered by delayed undergrounding of power and PTCL cables. Residents of Rawalpindi report worsening traffic congestion, dust and damaged roads as multiple development schemes progress simultaneously. Motorists say vehicle breakdowns have increased due to the extensive digging across inner city neighbourhoods.
RMC officials maintain that road construction and beautification in both Commercial Market and Raja Bazaar will begin only after all underground cable work is completed. Traders’ bodies have been taken into confidence for uniform signboard installation. The Rawalpindi Traders Association confirmed that shopkeepers are disturbed by the slow progress but hope for timely completion once utility companies meet the revised deadline.
