Local administration takes over Varan Bus Stand

Rawalpindi : Rawalpindi administration Saturday took over the control of Varan Bus Stand for construction of a parking plaza in Saddar.

The Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Division Captain (r) Mohammad Mehmood had directed revenue department to take over land of Varan Bus Stand, which is owned by Punjab government.

Additional District Collector General (ADCG) Zaheer Anwar Jappa told ‘The News’ that on the directions of commissioner, revenue department was looking after this matter.

The Commissioner Rawalpindi Division is trying to eradicate traffic related issues from the city areas. Commissioner Rawalpindi had directed to point out areas for parking plazas. The local management had pointed out five ideal locations to construct parking plazas in city. The Metropolitan Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR) has completed a survey to build five other parking plazas and chosen the location of Commercial Market near Fire Brigade Nursery Land, Kutchery near CPO office, City Saddar Road at Old Tehsil Office, Banni Market and at Ghazni Market.

Commissioner Rawal­pindi Division Captain (r) Mohammad Mehmood has also directed Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to add a couple of storeys to Fawara Chowk Parking Plaza to increase its parking capacity. Punjab government is going to introduce Public Private Partnership Authority Act. The local administration has planned to construct parking areas on first three floors and residential flats on other floors. Similarly, it will demolish residential houses of officers near Kutcherry to construct parking plaza. It will construct officer’s flats over parking plaza at Kutcherry. It is planning to demolish all shops at Banni Market owned by MCR to construct another parking plaza.

The first parking plaza in city built by Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) at Fawara Chowk mostly runs out of space during peak hours as it can accommodate only 1000 vehicles at a time.