Raja Bazaar, Commercial Market revamp to be completed by May 30

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation has completed 60 per cent of the beautification and underground cabling work in the city’s historic Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market, with the project scheduled for completion by May 30.

According to details, the revamp is being carried out under the Sohna Punjab Programme, and its inauguration is expected in June by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The project has been estimated at Rs875 million, although its cost is likely to rise.

Officials expect residents to see a significantly changed appearance of Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market by June this year. Work on underground cabling from Fawara Chowk to Dingi Khoi Chowk and the adjoining commercial area has already been completed, while beautification activity is continuing at speed.

The project includes the construction of decorative arches in a traditional architectural style in front of shops using small red bricks. It also covers facade improvement of old buildings, repair and renovation work, installation of uniform signboards, development of walking areas with tuff tiles, footpaths, washrooms, seating benches, decorative lighting, and the planting of flowers and greenery.

The area is expected to be opened as a walking street by May 30, on the pattern of Bank Road Saddar.

In Commercial Market, underground cabling and the relocation of utilities have also been completed. Beautification work there is now under way rapidly.

Parking plaza proposal sent for approval

Separately, a parking plaza project worth more than Rs3.25 billion has been proposed at Fawara Chowk on the site of the old municipal office, and the plan has been sent to the Punjab government for approval.

Chief Officer Municipal Corporation Imran Ali said the May 30 deadline had been fixed under the Sohna Punjab Programme to ensure cleanliness, improve aesthetics and provide a better environment for citizens.

He said the incomplete parking plaza at Fawara Chowk was insufficient to meet parking needs, adding that a new plaza was being planned nearby at the former municipal office site. The deadline under the Sohna Punjab Programme has been fixed for May 30, ensuring cleanliness, aesthetics, and improved environment for citizens.

The ongoing work is part of a broader effort to upgrade one of Rawalpindi’s busiest commercial areas through infrastructure improvement and visual enhancement, alongside measures aimed at easing utility-related issues and addressing parking demand.