RAWALPINDI: Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mahmood on Monday said Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has given clearance to Rawalpindi Ring Road project.

He said was presiding over a review meeting of Rawalpindi Ring Road project at the Commissioner’s Office.

The meeting was also attended by Finance and Planning Director Nazia Parveen Sudhan, Rawalpindi Development Authority Director General Amara Khan, officials of Nespak and other relevant departments.

The commissioner said all the recommendations regarding environmental protection would be implemented so that the Ring Road project could also play a key role in addressing the issues of air pollution in twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. He further said that 300,000 sapling would be planted along the ring road.

He said Nespak experts had revisited the design of Motorway Interchange to save a shrine, a cemetery and a natural spring.

He said a bridge would be constructed at the airport interchange to save a reservoir of water as the project has been made environmental-friendly and there is a shortage of water in the surrounding areas where the reservoir is located.

Commissioner said various proposals regarding integrated traffic system on Ring Road are under consideration and their cost is being estimated.

He said an integrated traffic system was needed on the Ring Road as the project would be developed under a public-private partnership and it was important for the government to assess the traffic flow on the project.

He said the method of collecting toll from vehicles using Rawalpindi Ring Road would be on the basis of motorway style per kilometer.

However, there is a model of Lahore Ring Road under which toll is collected from vehicles.

He said the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry was being consulted regarding the establishment of commercial zones on Ring Road and an important meeting would be held with the Minister of Industry in this regard so that all the proposals could be finalised.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2020