RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has sent revised PC-I of Ammar Chowk re-modeling to the Punjab cabinet for approval as it plans to launch the project this fiscal year.

The project was conceived in 2013 aimed at easing traffic on Airport Road. However, the previous provincial government of PML-N diverted the funds allocated for the chowk re-modeling to metro bus project.

The previous PC-I costing Rs634 million was approved by the Punjab government in 2013.

RDA plans to construct a flyover, underpass at the chowk

A senior official of the RDA told Dawn that the project was basically the brainchild of the military authorities as VIP movement between the Garrison Headquarters, airport and General Headquarters (GHQ) kept the traffic blocked in the area.

In 2013, they had asked the civic body to construct a flyover and an underpass at Ammar Chowk so that VIP movement could not disturb the traffic on Airport Road.

The senior official said the civic agency made PC-I of the project in consultation with the garrison engineers. When time came to launch the project, the provincial government refused to release funds saying the major chunk of the amount had been spent on the metro bus project.

However, he said the work was started in 2018 but again it was stopped due to general elections.

He said the new provincial government launched the project afresh and got it approved from the Punjab Planning and Development Department.

He said as the construction cost of the project had increased, the RDA had to send revised PC-I worth Rs800 million to provincial cabinet for final approval.

However, he said, the planning and development department made objections and asked the RDA to revise the utility services shifting cost as it was too low. The RDA sent the revised PC-I to cabinet for final approval.

“The project will be launched as soon as the cabinet gives green signal to the civic body,” said the RDA official.

When contacted, RDA Chief Engineer Amir Rasheed confirmed to Dawn that the revised PC-I had been sent to the Punjab Cabinet for approval.

He said the RDA was focusing on mega projects. He said that some road projects would be launched under the Annual Development Programme.

The chief engineer said they were in the process of preparing PC-I of each mega project which would be sent to the planning and development department for approval.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2019