Rawalpindi’s first walking street set for inauguration tomorrow

RAWALPINDI: The first underground cabling-based walking street in Saddar’s commercial hub, Bank Road, is set to be inaugurated on February 26.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is expected to attend the event as the chief guest, along with other notable figures.

The one-kilometer stretch running from Murree Road to Police Station Road has over Rs1.2 billion, making it among the busiest roads of Rawalpindi city, housing outlets of top brands. Removal and underground transfer of all overhead electrical and telephone cables was done in the first phase.

Additional installations were those of a sewage system, hard tiling, wide footpaths, colorful benches, modern lights, and the setting up of food cabins.

The road has been divided into four blocks, ensuring pedestrian-only access. Heavy gates have been installed at the beginning and end of each block, while the Canning Road and Kashmir Road routes connected to Bank Road have been kept open for traffic. Electric vehicles are also available for a free shuttle service.

The work on Bank Road has made it the busiest and most picturesque walking street in the commercial area because it provides tourists with the opportunity to buy while strolling in a nice environment. By evening, shoppers are twice as plentiful as during the day.

According to initial information provided by Assistant Secretary and Spokesman Cantonment Board Rawalpindi Rashid Saqib, the underground cabling project is underway on Saddar’s Haider Road, Kashmir Road, Adamji Road, and Mall Road.

The underground cabling and beautification project will also be initiated at the commercially important Saddar Bazaar, Hospital Road, Hathi Chowk, Coal Centre, and Police Station Road.

Furthermore, there is a plan for implementing a signal-free project at Five Star Hotel Chowk, TM Chowk, The plan includes an underground pedestrian street between Medical Stores Plaza and the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology on Mall Road.

The formal launch of the project will take place soon, with an estimated cost of Rs4.38 billion and a completion timeline of six months.