Governing body approves RDA, WASA budget for 2021-22

RDA revenue target was Rs559 million against target of Rs295 million for fiscal year 2020-21

RAWALPIDI:

The 55th Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) governing Body meeting held today in the conference room of RDA which was chaired by Chairman RDA Tariq Mahmood Murtaza. RDA Director General presented the annual budget of RDA and the governing body approved Rs2379.005 million for the 2021-2022 financial year.

The RDA revenue target was Rs559 million against the target of Rs295 million for fiscal year 2020-21. This is Rs264 million more than the revenue target. All this was made possible under Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision for the construction sector and by implementing the campaign of the prime minister and chief minister of Punjab. The RDA saved Rs189 million in its non-development expenditure.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision is that government institutions are being modernised.

Under this plan, digitisation has started in RDA under which residential and commercial maps are being received digitally which are being approved in 30 days. The RDA has approved 1,300 maps in one year.

Two underpasses will be constructed in Rawalpindi, which will be at Defence Chowk and Kachehri Chowk Rawalpindi. The underpass at Defence Chowk will be constructed at a cost of Rs2.2 billion, while Kachehri Chowk is the first underpass based on two-level tubes and cost Rs3.6 billion.

The major portion of Rs1,984 million of the budget has been allocated for ongoing and new development schemes. The ongoing development schemes include construction /widening and improvement of dry port road from Rahimabad flyover at Airport road to Welfare complex via Chaklala railway station Shell depot, Rawalpindi at an expected cost of Rs50 million and construction of three pedestrian bridges at Rawalpindi airport at an expected cost of Rs69 million.

The income target for FY2021-22 has been set at Rs433.325 million while Rs395 million has been allocated for non-development expenditures /expenses which includes pay /pension salary, utilities, repair and maintenance fuel etc.

The governing body also approved WASA’s budget of Rs2.9 billion for 2021-2022 financial year which was presented by the WASA managing director. In 2020-21, WASA achieved a revenue of Rs1,151 million against a target of Rs862.8 million and set a target of Rs1185 million for this year. The expenditure was estimated at Rs3.182 billion last year as against Rs1.6 billion. The development budget for this financial year has been set at Rs1.06 billion, which will be assisted by the Punjab government.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2021.