RAWALPINDI, April 25: Additional district and sessions judge (ASJ) Rawalpindi on Wednesday restrained Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and the Punjab government from constructing an overhead bridge for pedestrians on Benazir Bhutto Road in front of Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH).

ASJ Ashraf Bhatti passed the restraining orders while hearing a petition filed by Nasreen Akhtar, the owner of a commercial Plaza along Benazir Bhutto Road against the construction of bridge.

The judge also sought reply from the RDA and Rawalpindi’s district coordination officer till April 30 and adjourned the hearing.

Advocate Asad Abbasi, counsel for the petitioner, told the court the overhead bridge in front of the BBH was a failed project as in the past very few pedestrians used it for crossing the road.

Besides, it was difficult for elderly people as well as patients to reach from one side of the road to another using an overhead bridge, he added.

He requested the court to direct the Punjab government and the civic authority to construct an underpass instead at the site as crossing the road through underpasses was easy.