Communication link: Army interested in building Leh Expressway
Railways will introduce standard gauge tracks as an alternative to broad gauge
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The military on Thursday expressed an interest in building the Nullah Leh Expressway even as the government mulls extending the original design of the project to four kilometres featuring a two-way signal-free corridor from Soan to Islamabad.
The interest was expressed in a meeting between Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and Army Engineer Corp’s Engineer-in-Chief Lieutenant General M Afzal in Islamabad on Thursday.
The multi-billion rupees Nullah Leh Expressway was first conceived during the regime of former dictator General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf in 2007 when Rashid also helmed the railway's ministry.
At the time, the initial cost of the project was estimated to be Rs16 billion. The project was aimed at helping keep floods in the massive, open-air storm drain at bay during monsoon spells and to tackle decades-old sewerage problem of the garrison city.
The project was supposed to feature 22 kilometre-long two-lane expressways on both embankments of Nullah Leh, deepening of the drain to deal with the floodwaters and erection of barbed fences on both sides of the expressway.
The expressway was supposed to originate from Amar Chowk in Chaklala and would culminate at the IG Principal Road in Islamabad.
On Wednesday, Rashid had told the media that an agreement to build the expressway would be finalised in two weeks with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) willing to build it on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. A complete map of the project was also expected to be released ‘within days’.
Apart from discussing the project, Rashid and Lt Gen Afzal on Thursday discussed Pakistan Railways and upgrade projects.
Lt General Afzal suggested that six industrial zones should be built near large railway stations which would, in turn, strengthen the freight sector of Pakistan Railways.
Moreover, upgrading the ML-I on the broad gauge was also discussed. Rashid clarified that they will not be ending broad gauge, rather, a new standard gauge will be introduced as an alternative track.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2018.
The military on Thursday expressed an interest in building the Nullah Leh Expressway even as the government mulls extending the original design of the project to four kilometres featuring a two-way signal-free corridor from Soan to Islamabad.
The interest was expressed in a meeting between Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and Army Engineer Corp’s Engineer-in-Chief Lieutenant General M Afzal in Islamabad on Thursday.
The multi-billion rupees Nullah Leh Expressway was first conceived during the regime of former dictator General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf in 2007 when Rashid also helmed the railway's ministry.
At the time, the initial cost of the project was estimated to be Rs16 billion. The project was aimed at helping keep floods in the massive, open-air storm drain at bay during monsoon spells and to tackle decades-old sewerage problem of the garrison city.
The project was supposed to feature 22 kilometre-long two-lane expressways on both embankments of Nullah Leh, deepening of the drain to deal with the floodwaters and erection of barbed fences on both sides of the expressway.
The expressway was supposed to originate from Amar Chowk in Chaklala and would culminate at the IG Principal Road in Islamabad.
On Wednesday, Rashid had told the media that an agreement to build the expressway would be finalised in two weeks with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) willing to build it on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. A complete map of the project was also expected to be released ‘within days’.
Apart from discussing the project, Rashid and Lt Gen Afzal on Thursday discussed Pakistan Railways and upgrade projects.
Lt General Afzal suggested that six industrial zones should be built near large railway stations which would, in turn, strengthen the freight sector of Pakistan Railways.
Moreover, upgrading the ML-I on the broad gauge was also discussed. Rashid clarified that they will not be ending broad gauge, rather, a new standard gauge will be introduced as an alternative track.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2018.