Leh Expressway length cut short by almost half

The government has slashed the length of the proposed Leh Expressway almost by half, which would expectedly reduce the estimated cost of the project.

Sources said that under a new design, the length of the LEH Expressway project has been reduced from 37 kilometres to 20 kilometres. The project’s commencement point will be at Jhanda Chichi Nullah Leh bridge near Ammar Chowk instead of Sawan River and it will extend to IJP Road in Islamabad while being entirely signal-free with service roads as well.

According to the new blueprint, no more land than the previously earmarked will be acquired for the construction of the Leh Expressway.

According to the new design, the Leh Expressway will be deepened further by 8 meters to 11.5 meters total while its minimum width will be 25 to 35 meters. The expressway will have 15 feet wide road on both sides from the Sawan River to Ammar Chowk with barriers to protect it from the intrusion of humans and animals.

According to the sources, an important meeting of all stakeholders has also been convened next week to thrash out a plan for the land acquisition.

The Leh Expressway will have five interchanges, nine flyovers and three underpasses.

Vehicles will enter and exit from Ammar Chowk, Dhok Chiragh Din, Rialto Chowk Murree Road, Gawalmandi, City President Road Lai Bridge, Dhok Najo, Dhok Dalal, Purudhai and other areas. The prime minister will lay the foundation stone of the project on December 25. The project will be completed in a record time of 18 months. A sum of Rs24.9 billion had been approved for the project.

Rawalpindi Development Authority Chairman Tariq Murtaza told The Express Tribune that Leh Expressway was a game-changer project for Rawalpindi, which will create new employment opportunities.

He said that the land on both sides of the expressway will be declared commercial and it will be allowed to construct up to 8 storey high buildings.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2021.