Finally the Parking Plaza constructed by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) at main Fawara Chowk has been made operational for parking of vehicles.
Work on this mega project was initiated last year and it was to be completed by the end of the fiscal year June 2011. However, due to some reasons including non-availability of funds, the completion process was extended till December last. The RDA had also awarded the contract to the private party after clearing all dues. However, the project which was to be inaugurated by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, on February 4 this year, on the great demand of the public has been made operational for all kind of vehicles.
While launching the operation of Parking Plaza, RDA also shifted back the Suzuki stands on this site. The basement has been spared for transporters to park their vehicles like, yellow cabs, coasters and Suzuki Pick-ups plying on different routes in the city. While vehicles like cars would be accommodated on ground and first floor.
While generating revenue worth Rs15 million annually through it, RDA would start working on implementation of second phase, which include construction of additional four storeys. Initially, the components of the project included construction of shopping centre besides the parking lot. However, the planned had to be changed with the passage of time due to reasons better known to the authorities themselves. Before enforcing this plan, RDA had decided to convert old site of RMC, Jinnah Road, into parking lot which was opposed by the Tehsil Municipal Corporation, Rawal Town, on the grounds that the property belonged to it.
The main objective behind implementation of RDA Parking Plaza was to resolve traffic jams on Liaquat Road, Jinnah Road and at Fawara Chowk.
According to the RDA spokesman, as the project has started functioning, no one would be allowed to park vehicle on roadsides at Liaquat Road, Jinnah Road or Raja Bazaar. As many as 400 vehicles could be parked at one time in the space of new Parking Plaza which is an achievement of RDA which completed it through its self generated funds, the spokesman added.
