Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) after completing work on the first phase of the Parking Plaza at Fawara Chowk has finally awarded its contract to a private firm for its functioning from January 1, 2012. The RDA spokesman told ‘The News’ that work on the project was initiated a year ago and completed in scheduled time-frame. RDA generated the project funds on its own. In first phase RDA has built a basement, ground floor and one storey. The parking of vehicles has been divided into four categories including, Suzuki stand, cars, taxis, motorbikes and cycles etc. Big vehicles like coasters could also be accommodated at cars parking area.
The contract has been awarded to four parties out of a total of 14 who had participated in the bid. RDA would generate revenue of Rs15 million annually through this project that would be utilised on the second phase of the project. He said that the Parking Plaza was to be activated on December 1 or December 10, but owing to one reason or the other it was postponed. However, work on it was completed in November, he added.
The Suzuki stand which was based at main Fawara chowk remained scattered here and there at Jinnah Road after the work was started on the project. It created traffic hurdles at most part of the day from Jinnah Road to Paodi bridge connecting Saddar. However, now the work has been completed and all traffic problems pertaining to Jinnah Road, Raja Bazaar and Liaquat Bagh would come to an end by 50 per cent. No vehicle would be allowed on roadsides.
People visiting Bara Market would also park their vehicles at Parking Plaza, the spokesman cleared. This project of the RDA is first of its kind in Rawalpindi for resolving traffic suspensions linking different routes from Raja Bazaar, he stated. The significance of the scheme is a big canteen built inside the plaza for the people. The plaza has a space for around 450 vehicles to park at one time, the spokesman claimed.
