RAWALPINDI, Jan 11: Rawalpindi bypass seems to be in sight, as three proposals are now under active consideration of the government, informed sources told Dawn. The National Highway Authority (NHA) has proposed the by-pass starting from Rawat junction and ending at Thalian Interchange on Lahore-Islamabad Motorway. The authority has offered to complete the project at a cost of Rs3,065.21 million in 30 months. The project envisages construction of a four-lane divided highway.

The ring road project proposed by Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) is also very much alive, and the Punjab government has asked National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) to carry out the feasibility of the project.

According to the City District Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas, the project is planned to be carried out on the basis of ‘land-sharing formula’. Adiala Road, Chakri Road, Dhamial Road, Misrial Road, Bahria Town and the Defence Housing Authority would be connected with the proposed Ring Road, Mr. Ikhlas said.

Malaysia has also come forward with a proposal for construction of ring road on the basis of ‘build, operate transfer’ (BOT) basis. According to Javed Ikhlas, the offer had been made during the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi to Pakistan last year.

It has also been learnt that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has approved the construction of the by-pass but it is yet to be decided whether the government would task some local agency with constructing the by-pass or invite the Malaysians in this regard. The Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Ellahi has already pledged to provide funds for the construction of the road.

Throughout the Punjab province, Rawalpindi seems to be the only city, which has neither any by-pass nor a ring road due to which heavy traffic passes through the city limits of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, causing traffic snarls and environmental hazards.

The bumber-to-bumper traffic on all important and major roads has plagued the life of the people of Rawalpindi. Murree Road remains packed with traffic from dawn to dusk, while the situation in city and cantonment is unbearable for the travelers. The closure of Jinnah Road (City Saddar Road) for reconstruction has shifted traffic pressure to the adjacent roads. It has been learnt that some technical problems might delay the early completion of Jinnah Road.

The Cantonment’s busiest roads: the Mall, Bank Road, Kashmir Road and Haider Road remain packed throughout the day. There are no traffic police on these busy roads except for the Mall. The traffic on Kashmir Road between Telegraph Office and Marir Hasan Chowk is routinely wild due to the absence of traffic police.

Under the Cantonment law, heavy vehicles can enter the cantonment area only after 10 p.m. when there is less traffic pressure on the roads. But it seems the authorities have lifted this condition, as heavy traffic can be seen moving on the Mall and Peshawar Road throughout the day. Officials of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board are unable to make any comment on this issue.

At the same time, traffic police are also unable to check the unauthorized movement of heavy vehicles within the cantonment limits. Trucks with heavy load, loaded oil tankers, dumpers and tractor trolleys move on the Mall and Peshawar road without any hindrance and according to SP Traffic Sabir Ahmed the drivers of all such vehicles carry permits issued by competent authorities.

The parking of trucks and dum-pers on Peshawar Road has become a routine. It seems the authorities have either surrendered to the influential owners of heavy vehicles or they are deliberately overlooking this problem which is endangering the life of thousands of motorists.