Environment dept approves R3

Directs planting 250,000 trees along Rawalpindi Ring Road


Our Correspondent December 14, 2020

RAWALPINDI:

The major hurdle for the Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) has been crossed as the Punjab Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the project.

Subsequently, there are strong chances that the executing agency Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) will issue a work order for the long-delayed project in January, officials said.

The EPD, following directives of the Punjab Ministry of Environment Protection the department conducted a public hearing.

Following the public hearing, EPD, on the basis of earlier reports about the environmental impact of the project, issued the NOC subject to fulfilment of other legal formalities, EPD Research Laboratory Senior Rsearch Officer Amin Baig told The Express Tribune.

The department has also directed the execution body, RDA, to plant 250,000 saplings around R3 to ameliorate the environment, he said.

A green area has been allocated on the sides and in the median strip of the signal-free corridor while mini-parks will be constructed every two to three kilometres with benches too. There will be a computerised signal system on the R3 too.

Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar told on contact that the work order for the construction of Rawalpindi R3 would be issued in January.

It will be built under private-public partnership while all public complaints have also been disposed of, he added.

The minister told that the approval to acquire 10,000 acres of land along R3 for the construction of 10 industrial zones was also given.

He added that swift implementation of Section 4, the law for annexing public land for state projects, has also been approved.

Besides this, the aviation minister said that the construction of high-rise buildings was also part of the project.

RDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza said that 10 economic zones would be developed along the project to help boost economic activities in Rawalpindi region.

Murtuza said that the incumbent government was well aware of the problems being faced by the traders and businessmen. “We are making all out efforts to provide conducive environment to the business community and 10 economic zones will be developed along R3 like Faisalabad Industrial Zone.”

He said all possible steps would be taken to implement recommendations of the businessmen. Punjab government would encourage the industrialists and provide all possible facilities to the investors under the R3 project.

Tariq Murtaza said that planning for the economic zones would be finalized in consultation with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce Industry (ICCI) and the private sector.

The project would be taken forward with the suggestions, recommendations and consultation from RCCI and ICCI.

RDA chairman said that CM Usman Buzdar had approved the R3 project to ease traffic congestion and boost economic activity in the region. The authorities concerned had also been directed to begin the project as soon as possible, he added.

Punjab government has released Rs6.7 billion for land acquisition, he said adding, the project will give a new look to the city. Landfill sites would also be identified where solid waste management and dumping sites would also help in keeping the area clean, he said.

Murtaza said that 65.6 kilometre-long R3 would have six lanes on each side like the motorway. The service roads would also be constructed along the main road while RDA would plant 0.15 million saplings on the entire route of the signal-free corridor. Under the first phase, some 51-km land would be acquired from Radio Pakistan on GT Road to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2020.

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