RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has sent a fresh project concept-I (PC-I) for Ammar Chowk remodeling to the Punjab Housing Department for approval.

The cost of the project has gone up to Rs800 million increased from Rs634 million. The previous PC-1 for the project was approved by the Punjab government in 2013 but the work on the project could not be started as funds were diverted to metro bus project.

A senior official of the RDA told Dawn that in 2013, the military authorities had asked the civic body to construct the flyover and underpass on the roundabout to keep the traffic moving in the area during the VIP movement between the garrison headquarters, airport and General Headquarters .

He said the RDA in consultations with the garrison engineers had made the PC-1 but the provincial government refused to pay the project cost terming that the metro bus project had consumed major chunk of funds.

However, he said that after the completion of the metro bus project, the provincial government directed the RDA to send PC-I for the project afresh so that the funds could be released for the project.

He said the RDA had hired the services of a consultant who conducted the feasibility study and made the PC-I.

He said the work on the project was likely to start this month as an underpass would be constructed at main square. He said that the flyover would also be constructed to connect the garrison headquarters with the main Airport Road towards Saddar.

When contacted, the RDA spokesman Hafiz Mohammad Irfan confirmed that the authority had sent the PC-I to Lahore for approval.

He said that the work on the project would be started as soon as it got approval from the Punjab government.

Liaquat Bagh

On the other hand, the RDA has failed to finalise PC-1 for the remodeling of Liaquat Bagh as it is still undecided whether flyover is feasible or underpass.

A senior official of the RDA told Dawn that the RDA would brief the commissioner about the remodeling of Liaquat Bagh and he would decide whether flyover should be constructed or underpass.

He said that Nespak had been hired as consultant and its experts would brief the commissioner about the options to make the Liaquat Bagh square a signal free.

He said the committee led by commissioner would first assent the PC-1 prepared by the consultant and then sent it to the Punjab government for approval.

The RDA spokesman said the provincial government had allocated Rs10 million for the feasibility study. He said after the selection of the consultant, the work would start in a week or two.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2017