The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has completed 95% of the civil work under the first phase of the underground cabling project in the Saddar Bazaar -- the thriving commercial hub of Rawalpindi cantonment – with an estimated cost of Rs80 million. Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has also initiated its installation work with an allocated budget of Rs750m.
Under Part 2 of Phase 1, the board has separately forwarded a proposal for a Rs400m project to the competent authority for approval. The project aims to secure the lifting and renovation of heritage buildings and construct executive public washrooms at par with the standards of motorways.
Around 95% of the civil work of the underground cabling project in Saddar markets, Mall Road North Side, Hyder Road, Bank Road, King Road, Kashmir Road, Hospital Road and Police Station Road has been completed.
The IESCO has commenced the installation work for LT lines (low tension lines), HT lines (high tension lines), 116 transformers and 35 LB switches. The project, scheduled to start in January 2024, is expected to be completed by November this year.
Sources in the RCB said that as part of the ongoing IESCO project, the front side of all buildings in the Saddar Bazaar would be restored, heritage buildings would be preserved in their original form, uniform-sized signboards would be installed, the Bank Road would be freed from vehicles, footpaths will be upgraded, traffic signals and street lights would be improved, and cat eyes would be installed for enhanced road safety.
Furthermore, two sets of public washrooms meeting the motorways’ standards would be constructed on Hyder Road and Bank Road, featuring three washrooms for men and as many for women. All these schemes would be initiated after the approval of Rs400m.
Sources further said a proposal for the underground cabling project with an estimated cost of Rs500m under Part 1 of Phase 2 has also been submitted to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for approval. Once approved, the project will commence underground cabling work on Adamji Road, Kashmir Road, Babu Mohalla, and Saadi Road. A separate grant will also be sought for Part 2 of Phase 2.
With the completion of underground cabling, uplifting, renovation and improvement and front-side enhancement initiatives, Saddar Bazaar will be transformed into a modern and vibrant trade. Citizens will have parking facilities, walking streets, a bustling food street, dining areas, access to clean drinking water, executive washroom facilities and proper security.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2024.
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