RAWALPINDI: Following the completion of the metro bus project worth Rs44.21 billion, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) will begin remodeling Ammar Chowk in Chaklala Scheme III and Kutchery Chowk.

A senior RDA official told Dawn that the authority was ready to start work on these projects but the provincial government diverted the funds to the metro bus project.

He said plans for the two main projects were prepared before the general elections of 2013 on the instruction of military authorities.

“However, the project was approved by then Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in GHQ on June 6, 2013,” he said.

The official said military authorities face problems when using the Airport Road as there are frequent traffic jams and road has to be blocked to general traffic to facilitate VIP movement.

“The military authorities suggested to the RDA that underpasses be constructed on the main Airport Road, rather than flyovers,” he said.

The RDA official said that earlier the project cost for remodeling Ammar Chowk was Rs684.333 million but two years later the project would cost more.

For Kutchery Chowk, he said, the provincial government wanted the RDA to work through the National Highway Authority (NHA) as the main roads of the province come under the purview of the NHA.

The official said that the RDA would also construct four new roads after the completion of the metro bus project.

The Punjab government would provide Rs1.262 billion for the reconstruction of the roads including Airport Road from Ammar Chowk to Koral Chowk to the tune of Rs450 million, Double Road Shamsabad worth Rs165 million, Adiala Road worth Rs325 million and Ch. Bostan Khan Road from Chaklala Scheme-III to Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench, he said.

All these roads will be connected to Kutchery Chowk and Ammar Chowk and construction work would be launched once the remodeling of the two main squares is completed, he said.

When contacted, Commissioner Zahid Saeed said both the provincial government and the RDA were focusing on the completion of the metro bus project and after the launch of the bus service, the civic body will start other projects.

“Of course, the provincial government will provide funds to the RDA for the remodeling of Ammar Chowk, while Kutchery Chowk project will be launched by the NHA,” he said.

He said there was a dire need for improving traffic flow on main roads and underpasses and flyovers are the best option.

He said that following the completion of this project, motorists would be able to travel on Airport Road without any signals, from Saddar to Koral Chowk.

Published in Dawn February 1st, 2015

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