RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government will launch another project worth Rs40 billion in the garrison city after the completion of the metro bus project.

A senior official told Dawn that the provincial government wanted to start work on the Leh expressway project worth Rs40 billion before the local government elections.

The project will be launched in three phases.

Former President Pervez Musharraf inaugurated work on the Leh expressway project in March 2007.

The contract as awarded to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) but work on the scheme was stopped in 2008 after the formation of the PML-N government in Punjab.

Punjab govt will be starting work on the much-awaited Leh expressway project

In 2012, the PML-N government decided to restart the work and directed the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to conduct a fresh feasibility study, which was completed in 2014.

However, in 2014, the provincial government diverted the funds to the metro bus project.

The official said the new feasibility report recommended improving the existing sewerage system in the city and constructing the expressway from Ammar Chowk to New Kattarian which would be connected with the 9th Avenue in Islamabad.

“The government is considering launching the project in three phases. In the first phase, new sewerage lines will be laid and connected with Leh Nullah to transport it to the sewage treatment plant at Soan River, 25 kilometres away from Ammar Chowk. In the second phase, the cemented walls and the bed of Leh Nullah will be constructed while in the third phase, the construction of the expressway would be carried out.”

Instead of spending Rs40 billion on the project, the government wants to divide the amount in Rs10 billion for each component of the project.

He said work on the project would be started soon after the completion of the metro bus project.

It may be noted that in 2007, the total cost of the project was Rs20 billion which was to be equally shared by the federal and provincial governments. However, the delay in the project has increased the cost manifold.

According to the previous plan, the signal-free expressway would be 22-kilometres long on both sides of the Leh Nullah from Moti Mahal on Murree Road to Kattarian Bridge on I.J. Principal Road.

However, under the new plan, the expressway will be constructed from Ammar Chowk on Airport Road to the Kattarian Bridge.

PML-N former MNA Malik Shakil Awan told Dawn that the government had decided to launch the Leh expressway project soon after the start of the metro bus service.

In this regard, he added, two meetings were held in Lahore in the first week of January. The government would soon approve the project, he said.

When contacted, Commissioner Zahid Saeed, who is also the RDA director general, confirmed that the RDA had sent the project documents to the Punjab government for final approval after which work at the site would be started.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2015

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