RAWALPINDI, Aug 27: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday approved a multi-million Rawalpindi development package which included the construction of two flyovers and an underpass.

Presiding over a high-level meeting at the Punjab House, Islamabad, the chief minister directed the authorities concerned to immediately start construction of flyovers at Chandni Chowk and on Rawal Road near Benazir Bhutto Hospital and an underpass at Chur Chowk on Peshawar Road.

The meeting was attended by Senior Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, MNAs Shahid Khakan Abbasi, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Malik Abrar, Sheikh Aftab Chairman Planning and Development, Punjab, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Zahid Saeed, DCO Rawalpindi Saqib Zafar, DG NLC Maj-General Junaid Rehmat and RDA officials.

While addressing the participants of the meeting, the chief minister said that the public welfare projects should be completed speedily so that the citizens might get the earliest and maximum benefits from them. He said that the expeditious measures should be taken to solve the traffic problems in the city. He directed the officials concerned that the projects should be completed in a way that the environment of the city might not be affected.

He said after the completion of Rawal Chowk and Chandni Chowk flyovers, another flyover at 6th Road Chowk would also be completed speedily and the signal-free traffic could be made possible on a large portion of Murree Road which would also be upgraded from Naz Cinema Chowk to 5th Road Chowk. The chief minister said that the quality of construction work would not be compromised in any case.

He said that strict disciplinary action would be taken against the contractors and the officials concerned if quality of work was not maintained.

According to the details, the underpass at Chur Chowk would cost Rs50 million while the two flyovers would be constructed with the cost of Rs83 million. The ground breaking of these projects would be performed by the chief minister next month.

The chief minister had also directed the officials of the city administration to get the projects completed within three months.

While giving briefing on the projects, the NLC officials said with the construction of flyovers on Murree Road and underpass at Chur Chowk, about 20 years traffic needs on both the important roads of the city and cantonment would be fulfilled and the traffic problems would considerably be reduced.