RDA approves budget with outlay of Rs6b

Authority to focus on improving road networks in the city

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has approved a budget with an outlay of Rs6.015 billion to develop the city, including the remodelling of the double road leading up the IJ Principal Road junction and building an underpass at Marrir chowk.

The finance sub-committee has approved the RDA and Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) budget for the fiscal year 2018-19. RDA has earmarked a budget of Rs6.015 billion. Of this, a major portion, or around Rs5.751 billion, has been allocated for development projects in the city.



One major project outlined in the budget is the remodelling of a double road leading to the IJ Principal Road junction in Rawalpindi.

The project is expected to cost the development authority around a billion rupees. Other projects outlined include dualisation of Qadeer Khan Road from Islamabad Highway to Falcon Complex in Rawalpindi at an expected cost of Rs98 million.

Moreover, it will build, widen and Improve the Dry Port Road from Rahimabad Flyover on Airport Road to the Welfare Complex via the Chaklala Railway Station Depot in Rawalpindi at an expected cost of Rs125 million.



The RDA will also seek to remodel the Ammar Chowk at an expected cost of Rs675 million. Further, it will construct an underpass at Marrir at an expected cost of a billion rupees.

The authority will also work on dualisation of the Dhoke Hasu Road at an expected cost of Rs675 million, dualisation of the Dhoke Mangal Road at an expected cost Rs375 million and construction of a pedestrian bridge on Airport Road at an expected cost Rs56 million.

All of these projects are expected to be completed within the new fiscal year 2018-19.

A small portion of the budget or around Rs264 million (4.38 per cent of total budget) has been allocated for non-development expenditures which include salaries of RDA employees, pensions of retired officials, paying rent of office building, and paying utility bills and other expenses.

The meeting had been chaired by RDA Director General (DG) Rana Akbar Hayat, RDA Admin and Finance Director Asif Mahmood Janjua, Finance DeputyDirector Junaid Taj Bhatti, P&D Saima Ghafoor, Deputy District Accounts Officer Amjad Ayub, and HUD  and PHED Tariq Mehmood attended the meeting.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2018.