RAWALPINDI MEGA PROJECTS
The progress on all proposed megaprojects of Rawalpindi has now been automatically postponed to the next calendar year.
Authorities made many announcements throughout 2020 for the launching of the projects. However, there was not practical work except meetings and press statements.
Apart from the proposed projects, many projects of the previous government could not be completed. Even during 30 months-long tenure of this government.
Similarly, they have made no progress on the proposed water supply project aiming to channel water from Ghazi Barotha to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
This year, no major development in Rawalpindi could be observed. Other than the maintenance of parks, kitchen gardening, new tube wells, water supply network, and road infrastructure. We must note that with rising populations, the twin cities need mega projects related to water supply.
RAWALPINDI MEGA PROJETS (DELAYED)
The delayed projects include Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant (RIUKT), incomplete metro bus route, and model graveyard in Dhamyal Rakh on 2,000 Kanals.
The provincial government has discreetly pushed 13 mega projects to in Rawalpindi to the next year, officials told the sources.
Since the beginning of the current fiscal year, the administration had made announcements to kick off mega projects in Rawalpindi. However, the officials of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC), district administration as well as Punjab local bodies minister, have now started mentioning launching of projects in next fiscal year. Citing the shortage of funds due to the novel coronavirus situation.
The future of mega projects including Leh Expressway, Ring Road, re-modelling of Ammar Chowk and Kutcheri Chowk, parking plazas, food streets, Daducha and Chahan dams, new hospitals in Rawalpindi division, and others have once again become uncertain, they said.
They have made Leh Expressway a part of CPEC. Chinese engineers are conducting its surveys. Whereas, authorities have termed the Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) as a project that will change the living standards of the people living around it. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also remained restricted to statements in this regard. However, there is no progress beyond just conversations.
When asked about the stalled mega projects, RDA Chairman Tariq Murtaza said that they have removed all technical impediments in all mega projects.
He assured that they would lay the foundation for Rawalpindi Ring Road in January next year. Whereas, for Daducha Dam and Leh Expressway would start in the first quarter of the next fiscal year of 2021-22.
RDA Chairman Murtaza said that we have released an amount of Rs6.2 billion for land acquisition of this project of vital importance.
RAWALPINDI RING ROAD
The Rawalpindi Ring Road Project and the Leh Expressway too remained hot topics of political and official statements. Though groundwork on these thoroughfares has yet to begin.
RDA chairman said that 65.5km-long six lanes R3 would change the lifestyles of the people of Rawalpindi. Moreover, set new horizons of development in the twin cities.
According to the RDA chairman R3 will not only reduce the traffic congestion in the twin cities. However, it will also give a clean, healthy and safe environment besides making significant contributions to national development. He said that business hubs, industrial zones, transport terminals, wholesale markets, logistic and education hubs, health city, dry port, recreational parks and residential estates would be constructed on both sides of the R3. That would uplift the economy of the region and offer plenty of jobs.
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