PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Development Authority’s Urban Development Board on Friday approved the extension of the Bus Rapid Transit feeder routes to Warsak Road, Regi Lalma Township and Defence Housing Authority scheme to benefit more residents of the provincial capital.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan presided over the board’s meeting, which was attended by ministers Akbar Ayub and Taimur Saleem Jhagra, PDA director-general Syed Zafar Ali Shah and other officials.

According to a statement issued here, the board approved the construction of a new bus terminal at Sardar Ghari area to ease traffic pressure in the city.

It said the meeting was briefed about the master plan of the proposed bus terminal and informed that PC-I of the project would be finalised by the second week of next month, whereas the groundbreaking of the project was expected to take place by the end of March.

The meeting also allowed the PDA to acquire the required land for shifting the GT Road truck terminal out of the city.

The chief minister directed officials to introduce e-tendering, e-bidding and e-billing system in PDA on the pattern of the works departments.

He asked the PDA high-ups to ensure physical progress on all development projects of the authority, including Peshawar Model Town, shifting the bus terminal out of the city, and construction of the missing links of the northern section of Ring Road as per the timelines so that these projects of public welfare could be completed in the stipulated time period and the public could benefit them without any delay.

Mr Mahmood said the authorities should take necessary measures to protect agricultural lands in the vicinity of Peshawar by stopping construction activities on them.

The meeting also gave approval for starting work on the construction of the missing link of the northern section of Ring Road.

The 8.7 kilometers long missing link from Warsak Road to Nasir Bagh will be constructed at the cost of Rs17.4 billion.

The statement said the board approved the constructing a cloverleaf intersection at the junction of GT and Ring roads on the entrance to Peshawar to address traffic congestion in the city.

It also approved the creation of a traffic engineering directorate in the PDA.

It also approved the PDA’s 2020-21 budget estimates and revised 2019-20 budget estimates and special conveyance allowance for the special employees of the authority at the rate of Rs1,000 per month already admissible to the disabled employees of provincial government.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2021