April 27, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, April 26: President General Pervez Musharraf has directed the city district government to expedite work on the Ring Road project with a view to easing traffic congestion on the city roads, it is learnt.

Sources in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) told Dawn on Wednesday that City District Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas after being questioned by the president about progress on the project directed its immediate completion ahead of the schedule.

Sources said the project was to be completed in a period of four years including land acquisition, land development and road construction. “But Gen Musharraf wants the project to be completed ahead of the schedule, which is a welcome decision, as the project has almost become dead,” the sources said.

The Ring Road carries special importance, as it would open new routes for traffic and reduce traffic congestion in the city. The road would cross Adiala Road, Dhamial Road, Gujar Khan Road, Chakri Road and Misrial Road and would be the biggest traffic artery in the city.

According to the project documents available with Dawn, no compensation would be given to the land owners, as the project is being launched on the pattern of housing schemes being launched by FDA, MDA and DHA.

When this reporter contacted the RDA director-general, Pervez Mahmood Khan, he said the project topped the authority’s priorities on the directives of President Pervez Musharraf and City District Nazim Javed Ikhlas. He said the concept of marginal land development was initiated by the RDA in 1995 to develop the city and control the urban sprawl.

Mr Khan said that there were five options to develop the Ring Road and added that the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Bahria Town had given land for the project.

Mr Khan said that the authority was also working on construction of an elevated expressway from Marir Hassan to Chandni Chowk after the directives of the president.