Leh expressway project still a pipe dream

Proposal seeks funds from provincial annual development programme for stalled scheme

RAWALPINDI:

After much delay, a proposal has sought to arrange funds for three major development projects of Rawalpindi — the Nullah Leh Expressway and Flood Channel and Treatment Plant the Kachhari Chowk and the Rawalpindi Ring Road — from the public sector development programme of the Punjab government in the financial year 2023-24.

The three long-delayed proposed mega projects of Rawalpindi have once again been made part of a discussion by the Planning and Development Department (P&D)

Sources said that the P&D has written a letter to include the Nullah Leh Expressway project in the Annual Development Program (ADP) of Punjab so that this mega project could be completed at the earliest.

The decision has been taken after the federal government withdrew from funding the project, which is pending before the Public-Private Private Partnership Board. Despite all efforts, funding could not be arranged for it.

The Nullah Leh Expressway initially envisaged in 2007 had been estimated to cost Rs17 billion which was put on hold in 2008 when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government came to power. Since then, no headway had been made on the vital project and its estimated cost has risen manifolds. In case of further delay, an exponential increase in its cost is expected to swell further.

The proposed Nullah Leh will remain open while water flow during the monsoon season, an estimated 0.1 million cusecs will flow through it.

The Nullah Leh will have 12 feet wide roads on both sides with barriers to protect it from the intrusion of humans and animals. Trunk sewers will be laid under the Leh Expressway to transport wastewater to the city. The sewers will join together in the Soan River from where the wastewater will be transported to the WASA treatment plant in Gorakhpur.

After treatment, the treated water will be channelled to the Soan River again which will be used for irrigation.

The sewage treatment plant was envisaged in 2005 and at that time, its estimated cost was put at Rs15 billion, which has now increased to Rs30 billion.

Earlier, the Punjab government had given formal approval for setting up a sewage treatment plant along with a 20-kilometre-long sewerage tunnel for the safe disposal of wastewater that aims to minimise environmental pollution in Rawalpindi.

Officials had said that the Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide the required funding for the project, which will cost Rs30 billion.

Earlier, the Executive Committee National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a sewage treatment plant for Rawalpindi.

Similarly, work on the 38.3 kilometre-long Rawalpindi Ring Road project has almost been halted after its inauguration in May.

While the Ring Road project dates back to 2002 and was initially estimated to cost Rs22 billion has now increased to over Rs50 billion. Sources said that it has been decided to conduct international bidding for its third-party validation by an international consultant. In case of any further delay, its estimated cost is likely to further balloon.

The proposed project Katchehry Chowk underpass and flyover redesigning project, which had been finalised earlier, is likely to hit a snag as change in design has been proposed.

It should be noted that these three mega projects of Rawalpindi have been under continuous consideration since 2008 despite the completion of all the processes for their approval. Since no practical measure could be taken to strt work, future of these projects is now facing uncertainty.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2022.