RAWALPINDI: As the civic agency in the city failed to develop greenbelts in the middle of Murree Road and around the metro bus stations, the vacant spaces are being used by shopkeepers and car dealers for parking.

About six months ago, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to convert the vacant places under the elevated track and around the bus stations into greenbelts.

However, instead of planting saplings and flowers, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) allowed the shopkeepers to park their vehicles under the Chandni Chowk and 6th Road flyovers.

The PHA received Rs129 million from the provincial government for the development of greenbelts and the beautification of the vacant spots.

Travelling on Murree Road from Saddar to Faizabad, one can find cars parked under the elevated road and Marrir Chowk bus station. Most of the vehicles parked around the bus stations belonged to shopkeepers and car dealers.

A senior official of the RDA told Dawn that it was the duty of the local administration and the Rawal Town Municipal Administration to stop the car dealers from parking their vehicles around the bus stations.

He said before the start of the project, the city district government had assured the provincial government that parking plazas would be constructed to facilitate the passengers using the metro bus service between the twin cities.

However, six months after the launch of the bus service work on any parking plaza could not be initiated.

When contacted, PHA Director General Dr Malik Abid said the authority was developing a greenbelt and improving lighting system on one side of Chandni Chowk but the other side had been reserved for parking by the RDA.

He said the vacant places provided to the PHA had been developed into greenbelts and the plants were being maintained.

On the other hand, RDA spokesman Hafiz Irfan admitted that the RDA had allowed parking on the vacant space under the flyover by shopkeepers and ambulances.

However, he said the RDA was not collecting any parking fee from the shopkeepers.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2016