‘Work on Kutchehry Chowk soon’

Road scheme to cost Rs3.8 billion

RAWALPINDI:

Work on the Rawalpindi ‘Kutchehry’ Chowk project will be started in January next year.

Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza said that once the work on Kutchehry Chowk was complete, work on the Defence Chowk project will be started immediately to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the busy intersections.

He said that the Kutchehry Chowk project would be completed at a cost of Rs3.8 billion, while Rs2.1 billion will be spent on the Defence Chowk project.

Murtaza said that work on the Ammar Chowk expansion project was in the final stages with the financial support of the Punjab government.

The project was estimated to cost Rs754 million, but because of the increase in rates of construction materials, technical and design changes, up-gradation of various components and inclusion of additional work, the cost of the project ballooned to Rs1.3 billion, he said.

Because of the growing population and traffic congestion, the project had undergone some significant changes, including the addition of twin underpasses, undergrounding of HT and LT cables and addition of a new service line and reinforced earth panel.

“During the construction work, the relevant authorities took all possible steps to ensure that people face minimum difficulties over restricted mobility,” said Murtaza.

He claimed that despite impediments caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the harsh monsoon season, the Frontier Works Organization made all-out efforts to complete the project within the shortest possible time frame.

“The surrounding areas of the project would be turned into lush green,” he added.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2021.