BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government plans to undertake the city uplift at a cost of more than Rs6 billion during the next two years.

Deputy Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathiya told Dawn that the plan included the mega projects of the construction of two flyovers and the widening of 11-kilometre long Circular Road connecting city’s two railway stations of Bahawalpur and Baghdadul Jadid.

The existing Circular Road dual carriageway, he said, was planned to be widened on the side of the Quaid-i-Azam Medical College (QAMC). It is learnt that on the left side of Circular Road the cost of existing commercial centres, plazas, markets and buildings was very high and it could be very difficult for the government to acquire their spaces and pay compensation.

A sum of Rs470 million was expected to be released this year and the whole project was expected to complete within two years.

He said the project would be launched after a go-ahead by the Provincial Development Working Party and would include a flyover from Fowara Chowk (Khatm-e-Nubuwatt Chowk) to Bindra Pulli on Multan Road estimated to cost Rs1.2 billion. The other flyover measuring about three to four kilometres at Dubai Chowk on Ahmedpur East highway may cost a Rs450 million, he said.

Besides, about 1.75km long Noor Mahal Road would be carpeted at a cost of Rs1,100 million and 4.2km long Dubai Palace Road to be widened at a cost of Rs270 million.

The deputy commissioner, along with Bahawalpur Cantonment Board Executive Officer Ramiz Shafqat (in whose jurisdiction Dubai Palace Road falls), inspected the site and ordered city Assistant Commissioner Naeem Cheema to launch an operation to demolish the encroachments and illegal buildings. He said the earlier proposal of constructing an underpass at Dubai Chowk has been dropped.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2021