RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi administration has introduced stricter requirements for road cutting and excavation, making prior approval mandatory for departments and utility providers carrying out work that requires digging up public roads.
Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Salman Ghani directed authorities to control unnecessary road excavation, citing concerns over traffic disruption, public inconvenience and the repeated use of government resources to repair damaged road surfaces.
Prior NOC Required for Road Cutting
Under the new instructions, departments and service providers must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before cutting or excavating roads for utility installation, repairs or relocation work.
The concerned agencies have also been directed to coordinate their projects and exchange information about existing underground infrastructure and planned service lines.
The aim is to reduce situations where roads are repeatedly opened for different utility projects after being newly constructed or repaired.
Road Cutting to Be Used Only When Necessary
The commissioner directed departments to consider alternatives to conventional excavation wherever possible.
Modern techniques such as thrust boring and ducting should be used when technically feasible to install or relocate underground services without significantly damaging road surfaces.
The approach is intended to reduce disruption to traffic and avoid repeated expenditure on road reconstruction.
Roads Must Be Restored Within 15 Days
Where road cutting cannot be avoided, the responsible department will be required to restore the affected section to its original standard within 15 days.
Authorities have also been instructed to establish clear deadlines for backfilling and reconstruction before excavation work begins.
This requirement places responsibility on the department undertaking the road-cutting activity to complete restoration rather than leaving damaged sections open or unfinished for extended periods.
Newly Rebuilt Roads Protected From Excavation
The commissioner further directed that newly constructed or rehabilitated roads should not be cut for utility installation.
Utility requirements should instead be identified during the planning stage of major infrastructure projects so that service lines can be incorporated before road construction or rehabilitation is completed.
This could help reduce future repair costs and protect recently upgraded road infrastructure.
Pending Applications to Be Processed Quickly
The administration has also set a three-day timeframe for clearing pending road-cutting applications submitted by utility providers.
At the same time, agencies have been asked to coordinate their future requirements more effectively so that multiple utility works can be planned together rather than requiring repeated excavation at the same location.
The new framework is aimed at improving coordination between development departments and service providers while limiting unnecessary damage to Rawalpindi’s roads and reducing disruption for commuters.
