GUJRAT: Allocations for at least 200 ongoing uplift schemes, including some crucial roads and flyovers, have not been made in the current fiscal year.

The projects that were mainly launched by former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi’s [second tenure] coalition government of PTI-PML-Q in Punjab, may face further delay, causing an increase in the estimated costs.

However, a handsome funding for some maintenance, repair and widening of at least 12 major roads of the district, has been allocated as contracts for these projects have also been awarded by the highways department recently and work is about to be initiated, said the official sources.

They said no funds for at least 92 schemes of the highways department were earmarked for the second consecutive year as these projects were overwhelmingly launched on the recommendation of former federal minister Chaudhry Moonis Elahi and other PTI lawmakers between 2018 and 2023.

Official says no allocations made for 92 projects for 2nd consecutive year; some plans under radar of anti-corruption watchdog

These schemes include important flyovers Servis Mor, Kathala railway crossing along the old GT road as well as another flyover to connect the old GT road with Samman-Dinga Road and Gujrat bypass.

Similarly, the projects like bridges and flyover at Upper Jhelum Canal (UJC), Rajjar flyover at railway crossing in Sara-i-Alamgir city and construction of at least 6-km portion of Gujrat-Jalalpur Jattan road, could not be given the remaining amount as some 30 to 50 per cent of civil work has already been completed.

The projects like Servis Mor flyover at Saen Raja railway crossing and Gujrat-Jalalpur Jattan road have been of great importance for the people of Gujrat since the flyover is required to connect the industries, fruit and vegetable market locating along bypass with the old GT road.

The under-construction Gujrat-Jalalpur Jattan road connects the whole city with the Hafiz Hayat campus of University of Gujrat (UoG) and its dualisation and reconstruction had been launched two years ago by the Parvez Elahi government. However, one of its tracks was partially carpetted a few months ago but no allocation was made in the current budget.

A senior official of the highways department said the estimated cost of Servis Mor flyover might be revised due to an inordinate delay in the execution.

He said the projects launched by the previous regime had still been under scrutiny and facing a number of inquiries by the anti-corruption watchdog.

It is learnt that funds have been set aside in the current budget for Gujrat-iakhanwal expressway connecting the city with under-construction Sambrial-Kharian motorway [an extension to Lahore-Sialkot Motorway M-11] but no work on ground could be launched due to the project facing inquiries and funds were also yet to be released.

An official of the local administration said only the sewerage scheme launched in Mr Elahi’s tenure, was being currently executed at old GT road to Shadman Colony and work on its two other portions such as Jattowakal and Shadiwal to Hariywala and Shaheen Chowk to Hariyewala Chowk was also under way besides the construction of disposal stations.

He said the local authorities had made repeated requests to the Punjab government to at least complete the Servis Mor flyover, Jalalpur Jattan or UoG road and the city’s sewerage schemes.

The official said fund had been issued for the maintenance, widening and repair of at least 12 roads, including 40-km Gujrat-Bhimbher (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) road and Head Jagu (Sara-i-Alamgir) to Jalalpur Sobtian road, Kharian to Jalalpur Jattan road, Madina Syedan to Awan Sharif road and others.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2024