Confusion prevails over Ring Road project

Aviation minister says work to start soon, but RDA officials say unlikely before 2021

RAWALPINDI:

The government officials and elected representatives appear confused over the fate of the Rawalpindi Ring Road and other major development projects in the city which were expected to be kicked off during the new financial year.

The financial instability in the country due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) situation has forced the Punjab government to suspend preparations for launching six mega projects in Rawalpindi until at least February 2021.

These projects include the Rawalpindi and Islamabad Ring Roads, Leh Expressway, Ghazi-Barotha water supply project and the Apna Ghar project in Chakala Scheme-III. The projects are estimated to cost around Rs600 billion.

Moreover, it is feared that the foundation stone for these projects will not be laid this year while all preparations to start work on them have been halted as well.

Sources say that the Ring road projects in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi will not start in the ongoing fiscal year as well as only Rs100 million have been allocated for both in the provincial budget.

Similarly, the Ghazi-Barotha water supply project has been put on the back burner as well and because of the dearth of funds. Work on the Daducha dam has also slowed due to the shortage of money.

Officials from the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Rawalpindi district administration and the Punjab Local Government Ministry, who know of the matter, have confirmed the development to The Express Tribune.

They said that the government has allocated a massive portion of funds to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, asserting that there is little to no chance that funds for these development projects will be released until October.

Therefore, they said that it seems impossible that the foundation of any development project will be laid until the end of 2020.

The officials further said that work on these schemes was expected to be reviewed in the first quarter of 2021.

Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed has expressed his displeasure over the few funds allocated for Leh Expressway in the provincial budget.

He suggested that he may have to personally speak with Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to complete the project.

Govt says work on schedule

Meanwhile, Federal Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who was elected from Rawalpindi, claimed that initial work on the Rawalpindi Ring Road project is underway. He added that the Punjab government is eager to start work on the Ring Road this year and complete it within two years.

The federal minister further said that the project will be a milestone for the twin cities, bringing with it economic and industrial prosperity along with comfort in long-distance commute. Further, Rawalpindi Commissioner Muhammad Mehmood visited different loops of the project’s site on Tuesday. He also visited the sites where interchanges will be built for the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2020.