RAWALPINDI: As many as 60 roads in city and cantonment areas that were damaged due to the recent rains have been identified for rehabilitation. Damage caused to these roads is worth Rs5 billion.

Talking to Dawn, Commissioner Noorul Amin Mengal said the local administration had made a comprehensive plan to improve the condition of roads in the city and cantonment areas next month.

For the first time, service ducts would be constructed on the road side to avoid further digging, he said, adding that roads selected for repair and reconstruction were the ones that had been damaged in the last four years as well as the recent spell of rain. He said after this, roads of the city and cantonment would be improved to beautify the city.

Footpaths and green areas would also be developed along roads. He said that roads in the city area would be constructed through development funds of Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) while 40 roads would be repaired through funds provided by the provincial government.

RMC had sought expression of interest from reputed companies for reconstruction work, he said, adding the contract to carry out this work has been given to a firm that has its own machinery.

Apart from this, he said that work to improve parking space in city areas has also been launched. The traffic police helped the administration in identifying problematic areas in the city.

He said that residents would also witness a better environment in the city in the next three to four months. Besides this, work on improving parks in the city would be launched soon, he said, adding he would visit these parks to see what needs to be done. The government has issued directions to improve green belts and in this regard, monsoon planting has begun.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2022