Govt axes Kacheri Chowk project

Formally discards mega scheme citing myriad obstacles

RAWALPINDI:

The Kacheri Chowk Remodelling project which was boasted as a state-of-the-art and Pakistan's first double underpass project experience has formally been terminated owing to a plethora of hurdles.

According to sources, the huge estimated cost and non-availability of land for double underpasses and overhead bridges have been cited as the main reasons behind the decision.

Due to the fact that the project was to be executed in one of the most sensitive areas of the garrison city, given its proximity to key military installations and residences of retired army generals, final clearance for the scheme was not given.

The project also faced opposition from the Rawalpindi District Bar Association.

Furthermore, government institutions including the Fatima Jinnah Women's University, the commissioner's office, the Civil Defence Department, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Income Tax Department refused to surrender their land for the project.

Numerous law chambers and petrol pump owners also refused to surrender their properties.

The estimated total cost of the project stood at around Rs6.4 billion.

This mega project was supposed to be launched in March this year. However, the project was put in cold storage after a slight delay caused by technical issues.

Following the formal termination of the scheme, a new plan has been set into motion under which the roads will be enlarged to the greatest extent to tackle traffic woes.

Jhelum Road, Mall Road, Governor House Road, Rashid Minhas Road, Commissioner Office Road, and Adiala-Kacheri Service Road will be widened as much as possible.

Reduced median dividers, complete removal of encroachments, and a total ban on parking will all take place. The project, developed by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), was planned to be finished in two years. Due to the very limited and congested roads, two overhead bridges were to be built from Jhelum Road to Mall Road as part of this massive project.

All of the traffic coming from Soan had to use the overhead bridge towards Mall Road while traffic going towards Marrir Chowk had to use the underpass.

The traffic coming from the Commissioner's Office had to go through the second overhead bridge towards Mall Road.

District Bar Association President Faisal Khan Niazi stated that the bar supported the project with modifications. This would have fixed the traffic problem at Kacheri Chowk for the next fifty years.

We were ready to surrender a portion of the bar’s property but other institutions did not surrender the required land.

Commissioner office sources said the road extension project is scheduled to begin this year, and a proposal for Kacheri Chowk's beautification has already been created by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) and Cantonment Board under which flowering plants, fruit trees, and shade plants will be planted on all sides of the main intersection.

Additionally, cultural and defence monuments will be built at intersections, along with a digital traffic signal.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2023.