RAWALPINDI: The district administration and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) finalised the alignment of the Ring Road Project on Wednesday, which will be sent to the Punjab government for final approval soon.

The alignment was finalised during a visit by a delegation from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) at the commissioner’s office. The meeting was attended by Commissioner retired Capt Saif Anjum, Deputy Commissioner Omer Jehangir, RDA Director General Rana Akbar Hayat and other senior district administration officials.

The last government had sought a loan from the AIIB to build a ring road and ease heavy traffic in the city. The government and the bank agreed to start the problems in initial talks.

The AIIB agreed to the loan, on the condition that the government acquired land with its own funds and the loan was used to build the road and the bridges.

Work slowed after the PML-N government completed its tenure, but began again when the PTI-led provincial government was formed. A delegation from the bank visited to review the project so that the provincial government could give final approval.

A senior RDA official told Dawn that the alignment of the road made by Nespak had been approved. It will be 55 kilometres, starting from Banth near Channi Sher Alam and ending at Thalian, where it will connect to the motorway. Four intersections will be constructed.

The official said that if the project is approved the government will release funds to acquire land.

He said the previous government had made arrangements for the loan with the AIIB, which asked the government to acquire land in the first step and said it would then give the government a loan. He added that Rs4 billion would be required to acquire land.

The official said 11,000 kanals would be acquired for the construction of the road, adding that the government wanted to announce mega-projects for the city and the district, but was waiting for the by-elections to avoid any criticisms.

According to sources, the issue of landsliding in Banth due to the accumulation of dam water was raised, and the main road in the area will be closed for the movement of heavy machinery.

But, they said, it was decided that the road connecting adjacent villages and towns will not be closed during construction, and the main road will be reconstructed once the project is complete.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Omer Jehangir said the initial work had been completed and would be sent to the Punjab government for final approval. He said funds would be released and the acquisition of land would begin after Planning and Development approves the project.

He said the Ring Road Project was important for Rawalpindi city and the cantonment areas to ease heavy traffic. He said Rawalpindi was the main city connecting the northern areas to the country’s main road network.

RDA Chairman Arif Abbasi told Dawn that work on the preparation of the project had begun, and the final decision would be made by the Punjab government. He said a delegation from AIIB had visited, and they had reached decisions on initial work, including the alignment of the road and who would monitor the construction.

Mr Abbasi said he made some suggestions, as the road was not enough and other facilities should be made available along it.

“There is need for an industrial zone, shifting all wholesale markets including vegetables, fruits and wheat markets near the Ring Road. There is also need to establish residential colonies along the Ring Road to end urbanisation in city area which has become congested,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2018