PESHAWAR, Jan 12: The rehabilitation of the roads in the provincial metropolis needs Rs700 million, officials said. An official of the City Development and Municipal Department (CDMD) said the data compiled by various agencies revealed that intra-city roads needed nearly Rs700 million for repair and rehabilitation.

Official sources said that the CDMD had proposed to levy toll tax on the main entries to the city to generate approximately Rs63 million per year for repair and maintenance of the intra- city roads. But members of the district council have opposed the plan.

The sources said that the city roads were in worst condition since the government stopped funds for maintenance. The government had no resources to provide such a huge amount in totality, they added.

In the current annual budget, the district government has allocated Rs86.187 million for rehabilitation and repair of roads in the four town councils of Peshawar district.

The administration authorities of the town councils have identified more than 50 roads for repair work, whereas only Town- 1 administration has specified 32 roads in this regard.

The officials expect that the government might release only Rs15 million of the total projected amount in the annual budget for the repair of roads. All small and big roads in the city and cantonment areas, except the garrison area, have almost turned into dirt tracks, due to lack of maintenance and apathy of the successive governments as well.

The military-led government had started work on main roads, but at present funds shortage was causing a delay. Work on Rehman Baba intersection, known as Soorai Pul, has been suspended for the last one year, while the widening of main Jamrud Road is still incomplete.

An official said that Soorai Pul project alone required Rs198 million. Mian Iqbal intersection, Cantonment is also in worst condition and the Cantonment Board authorities had suspended repair work for the last couple of months.