RAWALPINDI, Oct 28: Construction work worth Rs60 million on Liaquat Road from Benazir Bhutto Road to Fawara Chowk kicked off.

MNA Malik Shakeel Awan inaugurated the construction work of the main road connecting Raja Bazaar to Benazir Bhutto Road. The two-kilometer long road would be constructed with Rs60 million funding from Punjab government. Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) would execute the project.

It may be mentioned here that the said road had been reconstructed in 1996 by Benazir Bhutto-led federal government.

Then, the 30 feet footpaths were constructed and environment ministry led by Asif Ali Zardari gifted plants for the beautification of the area. However, due to alleged indifference of RTMA, the plants got dried up and footpaths were encroached.

While talking to Dawn , MNA Malik Shakeel Awan said that the provincial government had also provided Rs60 million for the re-carpeting of Liaquat Road and the construction work was likely to complete within two months.

While giving the details of the construction work he said that two-kilometer dual carriageway road would be re-constructed and widened 60-foot from both sides. He said that the RDA would also construct footpaths and drains along the road. He said that new lamp posts would be installed which would be lit with energy savers.

However, he expressed sentiment over the wrong decision of RDA to construct Parking plaza. He said that former RDA Director General Makeen Shahbaz had made faulty design of Parking Plaza which squeezed the main road at Fawara Chowk.

He said that without proper planning, the RDA launched the project which created problems for motorists and traffic jam was witnessed on the main road. He said that under the new plan, the road divider from Gowalmandi Chowk to Fawara Chowk would veer off 10 feet to widen the road.

He said that the 30 feet footpaths would squeeze into 10 feet and the remaining area would be utilized for the widening of road on both sides.