RAWALPINDI: The divisional administration is working on a proposal to divert a loan meant for the Ring Road project to the Leh Expressway, Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood said on Saturday.

Speaking to Dawn after a meeting to review progress on mega development projects in Rawalpindi, he said the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has committed to a $400 million loan for the Ring Road project, but there are many investors interested in constructing the Ring Road on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

“We are working on a proposal to divert the $400m loan to the Leh Expressway which will also be launched bythe end of the current fiscal year,” he said, adding that a consultant has been hiredto conduct a feasibility report.

The Ring Road project consultant has been asked to conduct a study on constructing the road on a BOT basis within a month so that it can be presented to the provincial government for approval.

Mr Mehmood said the consultant has finalised the alignment of the road loop to connect to themotorway and completed a detailed design of the project from Rawat to Thalian.

The proposed alignment of the Rawalpindi Ring Road will originate from Channi Sher Alam Bridge on the G.T. Road near Rawat and terminate at the Thalian interchange on the M-2 motorway between Rawalpindi and Lahore near the Islamabad International Airport.

He said a complete design would likely be completed by the end of March and work would be started soon. He said he has directed the administration to begin land acquisition work.

On the other hand, Commissioner Mehmood said the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology will be functional by the end of March. He said construction is complete and machinery is being installed.

Mr Mehmood said the RDA had also been asked to start surveying traffic on Airport Road and the District Courts Square to determine whether a flyover or an underpass would be a better choice on Ammar Chowk.

He said the main roads would connect to the Leh Expressway at Ammar Chowk.

RDA’s traffic engineering and urban planning departmentswill begin the survey next week.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2020