RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) is set to restart work on two main projects, the Rawalpindi Ring Road and Rawal Expressway and Flood Channel (previously known Leh Nullah Expressway and Flood Channel).

A senior official of RDA told Dawn that the federal government has directed the authority to conduct third-party verification for the selection of one of the existing and controversial alignments of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project. In order to decide which is more beneficial in the final shape of the ring road, an opinion will be taken from a consultant firm.

The government cancelled the old alignment and formed a new alignment from Rewat to Motorway measuring 38 kilo metres. On March 19, Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the project and gave its contract to Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).

In the 2021 alignment,R3was a 38.3-km controlled accessroadwhich originates from National Highway (N-5) at Baanth and crosses through Chakbeli Road, Adiyala Road, Chakri Road and terminates at Motorway M-2 at Thallian Interchange.

The total cost of the project is Rs33.7 billion including Rs27 billion for construction and Rs6.7 billion for land acquisition while the total length of the main carriage way is 38.3km.

For Rawal Expressway and Flood Channel project, a senior official said that it has been decided not to acquire land around Leh Nullah for the project under the directives of the PML-Q-led Punjab government.

He said that the government asked to construct a two-way road and cemented nullah while the part of commercial activities of the project has also been dropped. “Now the focus is only on the road on both sides and the sewer line,” he said.

On the other hand, the 22-km long signal-free corridor from Kutchery Chowk to Motorway Chowk will be included in the next financial year. The underpasses and a flyover are included.

An official of the district administration said that PC-I of the project is with the Punjab Planning and Development Board. With the completion of the project, the travel time to the Motorway Chowk will reduce from one hour to 10 minutes.

He said that the metro-style bus route is also likely to be added to the free corridor so that citizens can get an affordable travel facility.

Deputy Commissioner Tahir Farooq said according to the proposed plan, underpasses would be constructed in front of Pearl Continental Hotel Chowk, GHQ Chowk, GPO Chowk, Military Hospital Chowk while a flyover will be constructed in front of Race Course Ground and underpass in Golra Mor Chowk.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2022