RAWALPINDI, Feb 8: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi will inaugurate various projects worth Rs200 million in the city on March 7, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) officials told Dawn on Sunday.

The chief minister would inaugurate the remodelling and extension work of Kamalabad Chowk, now called Kalma Chowk. The CM was scheduled to visit the city in the first week of January. But, he had to postpone his visit as Tehsil Nazim Hamid Nawaz Raja was abroad.

The Punjab government has already released Rs70 million for the project designed by RDA. The contract of Kalma Chowk had been awarded to the communication and works department, however, later on with the CM's directives it was re-awarded to the RDA.

The Tehsil Nazim, who is also the chairman of RDA, said some nine Kanal of commercial land had already been acquired for the extension project of Kalma Chowk.

The chowk was witnessing traffic jam owing to the rush of vehicles plying on the Dhamial Road, Octroi No. 22, Lalazar, Bakra Mandi Chowk and Dhoke Syedan. The chowk would be remodelled on the pattern of Kalma Chowk in Lahore and be upgraded to four lanes, he said.

The CM would also inaugurate a boys college at Dhoke Mustaqeem and a link road from Dhoke Syedan to Misrial.

PPI adds: Provincial minister for law and local government Mohammad Raja said the reconstruction project of Kamalabad Chowk would be carried out with an amount of Rs70 million in two months.

"The completion of this project would facilitate the people of Chakri Road, Lalazar and Dhoke Syedan," he added. He said the CM would also lay down foundation stone of boys college in Rawalpindi Cantonment. Moreover, a special package for Rawalpindi Tehsil will also be announced on this occasion.

STREETS NEED REPAIR: The streets and footpaths in Lal Kurti and Dhamial Camp are in dilapidated condition.