Project to make Pindi’s Saddar wire-free
In order to move the hanging electric wires connected to the poles underground for security, safety and beautification in the commercial area around the seven main roads of Saddar Bazar, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has prepared a project worth Rs1 billion.
According to sources, the project, which has been named “Conversion of the Overhead Electric System to Underground Electric Distribution Network”, will be completed within six months.
They said this project with equal funding from the Punjab government and the RCB was approved by the defence minister, defence secretary and the MLC director general following which the IESCO chief, cantonment executive officer, and other authorities finalised the project.
Connecting the old commercial area of Rawalpindi to the underground electricity system has also become necessary because at present these dangling electric wires at Saddar Bazar, Adamji Road, Bank Road, Kashmir Road, Hyder Road, Police Station Road and the Cantonment General Hospital Road and their adjoining areas are daily causing accidents besides are affecting the aesthetic appeal of the commercial area.
Accidents become norm
In these areas, the incidents of wires breaking from poles, transformers catching fire, power systems being badly affected in rain and wind storms and the power system not being functional again for many hours have become a norm.
Sources said the issues of safety and security have also started arising due to the garrison power supply of the city’s largest commercial being connected to the age-old system of poles.
Given the security issues, it was decided to make the electricity system underground in all these markets for which this most important project was finalised after consultation between the trade organisations and the RCB administration.
A cost of Rs1.5 billion was determined for this project by the IESCO and the civil works contractors. However, according to the opinion of experts, this cost was reduced to Rs1 billion, for which it was decided that the RCB and the Punjab government would each cover 50 per cent of the total cost of the project.
The Punjab government has already issued Rs500 million in funding for the project.
‘A significant project’
RCB Cantonment Executive Officer Imran Gulzar believes converting the electricity system underground in the main commercial area of Saddar is a significant project which will enhance the safety and security of the electricity system, as well as improve the overall appearance of the commercial area.
Daily mishaps caused by wires affixed to and dangling from power poles will be eliminated.
“The IESCO will work on this project while the RCB will oversee the completion of the civil construction,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2023.