GUJRAT: The Punjab government has approved Rs120 million for establishment of a grand public park near the Chenab River bank here.

The park that will be named after Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will be set up on some 95 acres of state land, mainly owned by Pakistan Railways. A no objection certificate (NOC) has already been sought from the railway ministry for the purpose.

The proposed park site is a green area with hundreds of trees and an abandoned portion of the old GT road. Many people from Gujrat and Wazirabad cities use the abandoned road strip for jogging and morning walk.

The fenced park will have facilities like seating arrangement, drainage system, jogging tracks, an artificial lake for boating, irrigation system, open swimming pool, roads, fountains, log huts, gazebos, toilets and management offices.

Official sources said the district government had sought some Rs200 million for developing the park but the provincial authorities allocated only Rs120m for the project in the annual development plan as Rs30m had already been released to the district government for starting work on the site.

An official told Dawn the park would be needing Rs80 million more for facilities like a mini zoo, joy land, gym, cafeterias, food courts/ restaurants and a 3D cinema.

He added that in case of non-availability of government funds for these facilities some private parties might be engaged for the project on a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis.

Presently, Gujrat city has three parks. Nawaz Sharif Park is the largest built back in 1998 near the general bus stand, besides the two smaller ones -- Ladies and Children Park on Ramtalai Road and Inayat Park at Fawara Chowk.

Published in Dawn, July 18th , 2014