Govt approves Rs100m to save banyan tree in Rawalpindi

Ring Road termed first project in country altered for a tree

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Ring Road has become the first project of Pakistan in which the design of a highway was changed to save a tree, engineers working on the project said on Thursday.

 The tree will be saved by spending an additional Rs100 million,” an engineer working on the project told The Express Tribune.

Officials said that Project Director Rawalpindi Commissioner Muhammad Mehmood had tasked them to preserve the tree near Rawalpindi GT Road. Engineers redesigned the first interchange of Ring Road and now the project will be completed without cutting down the old tree.

 Mahmood has approved to spend additional Rs100 million to purchase more land so as to circumvent the ancient tree.

Read More: Locals call for saving ancient tree in Rawalpindi

The total cost of the project is Rs50 billion. In addition, officials said that 6,500 trees would be cut down during the construction of the Ring Road project. In place of the fallen trees, another 30,000 will be planted as per the directive of the Environment Protection Department.

 Officials added that Rs6.77 billion have been set aside for the protection of landscapes, canals, lakes and waterfalls during the construction of the Ring Road project. There are also steps to be taken to enhance their beauty so that the project will be environmentally friendly