RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) installed sculptures of racing horses, soldiers, reflecting motifs, flowerbeds besides planting trees on The Mall at a cost of Rs10 million.

After the beautification campaign, the main artery of the cantonment area wears a new look.

The civic agency wants to launch a similar campaign in other areas as well.

Residents say civic agency should also pay attention to improvement of other roads

The decoration pieces have been installed along the road from T. M. Chowk in front of General Headquarters (GHQ) to Pirwadhai Mor.

Such pieces have also been installed on the greenbelt of Peshawar Road near Chairing Cross Square. The RCB also planted artificial grass on the median of the road.

“We started the beautification drive to improve the look of the main road and utilised Rs10 million on it,” RCB spokesman Qaisar Mehmood told Dawn.

He said the figurative work presented the local culture. A new lightning system has also been installed on greenbelts.

He said the RCB had also started work on improving the greenbelts along main roads and squares.

The gardeners are working day and night to turn the abandoned roadside areas into greenbelts, he added.

“We will also start a beautification drive on Bank Road, Haider Road and Adamjee Road after removing encroachments from there.

“Mostly vendors and shopkeepers have encroached on roadsides reserved for greenbelts,” he said.

He said palm trees had been planted in front of the General Post Office on Kashmir Road and a plan was ready to give a new look to Walking Street on Bank Road.

“We want to grow flowers on Bank Road and work in this regard will be started soon,” he said.

The Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) also launched a beautification drive but it was limited to the area from Katchery Chowk to Brig Tariq Mehmood Chowk.

However, the civic body has turned a blind eye to the condition of other main squares.

CCB Vice President Raja Irfan Imtiaz told Dawn that the civic agency had limited funds and spent some amount on the beautification of Katchery Chowk as it was the entrance to the Rawalpindi city.

He said a plan would be prepared to improve the condition of other squares and main roads. He said the government should allocate funds for the civic body so it could launch a beautification drive.

On the other hand, the residents of the cantonment said the beautification drive was limited to The Mall only.

“It is good to see that the RCB has woken up from a deep slumber. The main roads should be in good condition,” said Tariq Jamal, a resident of Peshawar Road.

He said the RCB should also improve the condition of Peshawar Road, especially near Chur Chowk, which was the entry point. He said heaps of garbage were lying along the road.

Zahid Shah of Westridge said the RCB paid attention to only public parks under its administrative control.

“The condition of Roomi Park and Westridge Bazaar Park need attention of the cantonment board.

“The RCB gardeners remain busy in Racecourse Park which is not for the common man and is meant for those who come here for jogging,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2018