IEDC-2010 Conference Proceedings (Download ... - NED University

Year
.Table 1. Population growth in Rawalpindi (Thousand persons)
Rawalpindi
Municipal
Corporation Area
Rawalpindi
Cantonment Area
Rawalpindi
Development
Authority Area
Total
1,972 373 242 245 859
1,981 457 338 322 1110
1,998 782 628 486 1890
2,010 1030 864 629 2520
2,020 1280 1100 762 3150
Source: Population Census Organization, 1998
The table shows that population of the study area increased continuously with time. Each part of the study
area witnessed a steady rise in its population. Rawalpindi city housed 373,000 persons in 1972 and, by
year 2010, the figure is estimated to reach 1,000,000 persons. Rawalpindi Cantonment housed 245,000
persons in 1972, which is now estimated to reach 629,000 persons by year 2010. Population in
Rawalpindi Development Authority area also increased from 245,000 to 629,000 persons since 1972 to
2010. Similarly the total population of the study area was around 859,000 persons; which is estimated
around 2.5 millions presently.
The growth of the City is restricted on the north side by Islamabad city. Similarly on the north-eastern
side, Islamabad Highway and National park are the physical barriers (CDA 1960). As such, the existing
trend of the city is towards south and south - western directions. Adiala road, Dhamial road, Chakri road
and Girja road are the main corridors for the growth, where development has already started in the form
of private housing schemes and road side linear pattern of housing. In addition, nearness of Lahore -
Islamabad Section of the Motorway with interchanges at Chakri and Kashmir road, has further opened up
this area for development. These are major radial traffic arteries serving the city population and lead to
outside city. They play an important role to open southern part of the city for development activities. The
future growth of the City has therefore, been planned in these directions. (CDA 1973)
1.2 History of Traffic Planning In Rawalpindi
In 1960, A Greek consulting planner Constantino A. Doxiadis prepared first plan of the metropolitan area
covering Islamabad to Rawalpindi cities. It proposed a grid iron pattern of wide roads for Rawalpindi area
as well (Figure 1, Rawalpindi Master Plan 1960). This master plan followed grid iron pattern of major
roads with a right of way of 600 feet and 1200 feet. (Doxiadis 1960).
The plan in Rawalpindi never came into implementation due to absence of necessary institutional
arrangement to incorporate Rawalpindi. It was not mandatory for RT, RCB and RDA to follow the
guidelines and design.
Secondly, another master plan was prepared by housing and physical planning department, for the period
1996-2016 (Government of Punjab 1996). This document is aimed to guide and control physical
development of the city. It provided arrangement of land uses and connection links between three parts of
Rawal Town, Rawalpindi Cantonment and RDA area. This master plan proposed a road network
comprises of arterial roads, major roads and secondary roads. According to this plan, the categorization is
based on nature and volume of traffic (National Highway Authority 2001). Whereas, the planning of
minor roads have been left to the three local authorities (Government of Punjab 1996).
Proceedings of IEDC 2010, 1-3 July, 2010
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IEDC-231-023