Parking Crisis Worsens After Rawalpindi’s Raja Bazaar Remodeling

Rawalpindi's Raja Bazaar is experiencing a parking crisis following its transformation into a pedestrian zone, between Fawara Chowk and Hamilton Road. Visitors and traders have been griping about the acute shortage of parking spaces. The RDA-managed parking plaza can only fit approximately 1,000 vehicles, but officials maintain it is insufficient to cater to the demand.

A 2022 study by the RDA revealed that over 60,000 vehicles traverse the roads surrounding Fawara Chowk, with a requirement for parking for around 1,200 vehicles. Roadside spots can only accommodate around 200 vehicles. Locals have reported that securing a parking spot around Raja Bazaar has become extremely challenging, especially for motorcycle riders.

Some have turned to private parking facilities, while others grumble about the fees at the existing RDA plaza. Shopkeepers allege that the lack of parking spaces is deterring customers from patronizing their businesses and negatively impacting their livelihoods. Sharjeel Mir, the president of the Rawalpindi Traders Association, has criticized the government for not building enough parking facilities prior to the beautification project, which involved converting Raja Bazaar into a walking street.

He believes that, coupled with inflation and limited parking, businesses in the commercial hub face even greater challenges. Additional parking facilities are on the cards, but their approval is still pending, and this has fueled concerns that the parking predicament may continue to linger.