Rawalpindi: RDA asked to expedite work on uplift projects

[Naveed Yaseen]

Cleaning of Leh starts to avert flood danger

Friday, June 12, 2009
Saeed Ahmed

Rawalpindi

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has been directed to expedite work on ongoing schemes and projects that were initiated under the Annual Development Plan.

District Coordination Officer (DCO), Rawalpindi, Imdadullah Bosal issued these directions to his staff while chairing a meeting at RDA here on Thursday. Director General (DG) Makeen Shahbaz and other concerned officials also attended the meeting.

The DG while briefing about the mega projects told the DCO that the authority has launched a RDA Vista Housing Scheme in the 12 rural areas close to I-15 and I-16 sectors. As per directions of the Punjab government, the RDA has to implement the project on 3,200 acres on land sharing formula with private entrepreneurs. The project would be launched in four phases.

In the first phase, RDA would work on 700 acres including construction of houses, commercial areas, educational institutions and hospitals etc. The summary of the project has been forwarded to the district price assessment committee for finalizing estimates on the scheme. After finalizing the estimates, the Punjab government would fund the project, which is meant for low-income people. The RDA would generate huge revenue with the implementation of the project, which is likely in next three to four months.

RDA is also working seriously to resolve the problem of traffic suspensions in Rawalpindi particularly on Murree Road and its connected links including Rialto chowk, Gawalmandi and Raja Bazaar. The cost of the project has been enhanced from Rs14 to Rs20 billion. The component of the projects include, 10 flyovers at different point starting from Amaar Chowk, Marir Chowk to Chandni Chowk. Flood Control Plan is also included in the Leh scheme.

The RDA has started dredging Leh to avert floods during the monsoon. The Punjab government has allocated Rs90 million for this purpose. The work is underway initially at eight different points/channels of the Leh, the meeting was told. A delegation of residents of Arya Mohalla and Javed Colony who visited ‘The News’ office have demanded that the branch of Leh between two hotels on Murree Road near Moti Mahal Chowk should be cleansed properly and deeply as in the past it has been the main bottleneck for outflow of flood water.

The project of 4-storey parking plaza in Raja Bazaar also came under discussion at the meeting. The provincial government is funding the Business Heights, a scheme of RDA in Sherpao Colony.

The DCO after briefing issued directions to the DG for expediting ongoing works including REIP, Leh dredging, Leh Expressway and the Parking Plaza.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=182661