PESHAWAR, July 20: More than Rs8 billion were allocated for different development schemes in Peshawar district to bring it par with other developed areas of the country, said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour here on Wednesday.

“These development projects include construction of Benazir hospital and burns centre, roads, bridges and drainage system,” he told ‘Mulaqat Programme’ of Khyber Union of Journalists at Peshawar Press Club.

The minister said that Mufti Mahmood flyover from the assembly building to Bacha Khan Chowk would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs1.75 billion while Arbab Sikandar Khan Khalil flyover would cost Rs670 million. He said that about 12 underpasses and flyovers would be constructed in the district to resolve traffic problems.

Referring to complainants about contamination of water, he said that decades-old obsolete supply lines were causing various fatal diseases like hepatitis and government planned to replace the same.

Mr Bilour said that sufficient funds were allocated to replace sewerage lines and ensure proper draining system. He said that encroachments would be removed from main drains. He said that agreement was signed with a foreign firm for shifting of garbage from the city and production of electricity through the waste.

He said that special funds were allocated for purchase of equipment, tractors and shovels to be used for cleanliness in Town-I.

The minister said that with support of USAID work on historical parks of the city was initiated that would be completed in March 2012. He said that a digital fountain would be installed at Jinah Park in addition to installation of a 200-feet high Pakistani flag in the same park.

Mr Bilour said that work on Ring Road was initiated to facilitate motorists and reduce traffic burden on city roads. He said that land acquisition process to construct bypass road from Charsadda Road to Pajagai and Warsak was in progress.