Civic development: Peshawar’s longest flyover inaugurated

Flyover is aimed at reducing traffic coming from Gulbhar and Nistherabad.

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti inaugurated the city’s longest ‘earthquake-proof’ flyover on Tuesday.

The flyover, constructed at a cost of Rs869 million, was completed six months ahead of its stipulated time. It is aimed at reducing traffic, particularly from Gulbhar and Nishterabad. The overall distance of the 14-metre-wide flyover is 1.06 kilometres. A ramp was also constructed for vehicles coming from Gulbhar. Twenty-seven pile caps have been constructed to enable it to survive possible earthquakes.

Residents welcomed the construction of the flyover and the effect it will have on reducing traffic, particularly at noon when vehicles heading from educational institutions jam up the streets.

“We used to wait for hours when traffic officials closed GT Road for vehicles coming from inside the city,” said bus driver Khan Razik.

Another bus driver, Aslam, said that though they had faced difficulties during the construction of the flyover, they were happy that traffic will run smoothly now.

“The flyover had been specially designed using 24 U-type pillars that can bear more load,” said PDA Deputy Director Engineer Sardar Bhadur.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2012.