RAWALPINDI: Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema on Friday said the work on General Post Office (GPO) Chowk underpass on The Mall would start next week and in this regard, all arrangements have been finalized.

He was visiting the underpass project site at GPO Chowk and TM Chowk Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema visited the underpass project site where the Communication and Works department officials and contractor Frontier Works Organization gave him a briefing about the project.

At present, soil test is in progress whereas Sui Northern Gas Pipelines has started shifting its supply line while IESCO and PTCL will follow the suit.

On this occasion, the officials briefed him about the details of the project and the challenges they are facing.

This project has been launched to improve the traffic flow on The Mall, which includes the construction of underpasses at GPO Chowk and TM Chowk as well as a separate underpass for pedestrians near Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) Hospital.

The total length of the project is 1,932 meters, which will be help in improving the traffic flow in the city.

The deputy commissioner directed that the official to speed up the work to complete the project at the earliest without compromising its quality.

He directed the departments concernedto complete the process of transferring PTCL, NTC, SNGPL and other networks expeditiously so that the construction work is not delayed.

Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema said that this project will prove to be a major breakthrough in solving the city’s traffic problems and will make travel more convenient for the citizens.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Amir Khattak chaired a meeting regarding mega projects including Rawalpindi

Ring Road, Dadhocha Dam, Signal Free The Mall, Adiala Road Flyover and Dream Project.

He directed that monitoring and timely completion of the development projects should be ensured. Giving the briefing on this occasion, Commissioner Rawalpindi was apprised that the financial progress of the civil work in Dadhocha Dam is 19.72% while the land acquisition has been completed.

The was updated about progress on Rawalpindi Ring Road, and was informed that 43pc work on the project had been completed.

On the identification of the lack of staff by the Project management Unit, Commissioner Rawalpindi directed the RDA to provide them with sub -engineers and executive engineers so that pace of monitoring work might not be affected.

Reviewing the progress of Adiala Road Flyover, Commissioner Rawalpindi directed that issues of electric poll and Sui gas pipes lines shifting should be taken up with the authorities concernedto solve it at the earliest.

He expressed these views while presiding over a review meeting held at the Commissioner’s Office Rawalpindi. The meeting was attended by Director General RDA Kanzi Murtaza, Deputy Commissioner Dr.

Hassan Waqar Cheema, PHA Director General Ahmed Hassan Ranjha and other senior officials where as Deputy Commissioner Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and Murree participated through video link.

Commissioner Rawalpindi added that work on communication networks and Sui gas line shifting should be started for the signal -free Mall Road.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2025