While setting September 2024 as the target for completion of the much-delayed Rawalpindi Ring Road project, the relevant authorities have tasked the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to start the process of hiring the consultant for the feasibility study of its second phase.
According to sources, the meeting of the steering committee for urban development projects was held under the chair of Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha. The participants of the meeting were told that the work on the Ring Road project was in full swing and September 2024 has been set as the deadline for its completion.
On this occasion, the Rawalpindi commissioner said the government was fully committed to the completion of the Ring Road project –a 38.5km route from Rawat to Thalian Motorway Interchange– before the scheduled date.
Industrial zone
Chattha said an industrial zone will be established in the surrounding area of Rawalpindi Ring Road. “The length of the project is 38.3 km. There would be a total of five interchanges at Banth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road and Thalian,” he said. “A railway bridge will also be constructed with five overpasses and 21 subways on the ring road,” he added.
The commissioner said the establishment of the industrial zone would help accelerate economic activities and provide employment opportunities at the regional level. “The project will improve the travel facilities for the public,” the commissioner added.
The project is of utmost importance for regional development, he said adding, the project will be a game changer for the people living in Rawalpindi and its suburbs.
He directed the officers of the Revenue Department to remain present at the Ring Road project site in different shifts.
Fortnight progress meeting
The commissioner said the steering committee meeting will be held every fortnight to review the progress on the mega projects of Rawalpindi.
“In the meeting, on-site problems will be brought before the forum and an attempt will be made to solve them immediately,” he said. “The site work on the Rawalpindi Ring Road project was going on in full swing and a target of one year i.e. September 2024 has been fixed for the complete completion of the project,” he added.
Chattha said he was determined to complete the public welfare project before the scheduled date as compensation for the delay so far.
The meeting was attended by Brigadier Salman Nazar, Brigadier Ejaz Qamar Kiyani, Brigadier Ahmed, Director Development & Finance Nazia Perveen Sadhan, RDA Director General Saif Anwer Jappa, SE building Khalid Azeem and other relevant officials.
Phase II feasibility report
Earlier, the commissioner directed the RDA to start the process of hiring a consultant for the feasibility report of Phase II of the Ring Road project from Thalian to Sangjani.
On this occasion, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and the RDA proposed to start work on the sewage part of the Nullah Leh project. The participants of the meeting were informed that the maximum discharge of the 17km-long nullah is 72,000 cusecs.
The commissioner said a phase-wise proposal has been prepared and submitted by the consultant urban unit for Kachehri Chowk remodelling.
Rawalpindi Station Commander Brigadier Salman Nazar said the projects should be completed within the stipulated period. “In the race for timely completion of released work and utilisation of release funds, the quality of work should not be neglected,” he added.
With additional input from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2023.
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